MARIETTA, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
More than 40 people, half of them children, lost their homes less than two weeks before Christmas.
A late Sunday night fire destroyed 10 units at the Ridge Point Apartments on Franklin Road in Marietta.
Marietta Public Safety said the initial investigation revealed that the fire started in a second floor apartment in the bedroom. The tenant attempted to extinguish the fire, but was unsuccessful.
Whitney Bryant said she woke up smelling smoke and realized the unit below her was on fire. She sprang into action, calling 911 and alerting neighbors.
"We're literally running up and down stairs, knocking and kicking people's doors, 'please leave, please leave, it's on fire!'" said Bryant.
Everyone escaped safely.
"I've never seen something as scary as this. I came out and see all these flames, and I was like, 'Oh my goodness," said Kamilla Silva.
Silva belongs to a local church. When she and other members learned of the fire, they distributed clothing and food to the victims.
Mother Chanelle Rackley said she awoke to a knock at her door, and moved to quickly get her kids out of the building.
"Got them up out of the bed, got their jackets and ran, that was it. We left everything else. We didn't know how bad it was until we got outside," said Rackley.
She can't help but think about what her family lost.
"Our bedding, clothes, electronics, Christmas toys that I had for my kids stashed away already. It makes it harder but it's not the end of the world," said Rackley.
The Red Cross is currently providing assistance to the 45 displaced homeowners.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Marietta Fire Department, but no charges are expected against the tenant.
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Mark Melvin/CBS Atlanta
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