Bladenboro fire investigation continues as officials search for cause of blaze

BLADENBORO, N.C. (WECT) - Officials are investigating the cause of a multi-unit house fire that occurred early Saturday morning.

The building had four units, and officials say three of those were occupied.

Bladenboro fire officials say none of the residents were hurt, but several animals died.

Officials couldn’t confirm where, why, or how the fire started. Around 4:29 a.m. on June 13, a neighbor says they heard an explosion from the home that caught fire.

The entire building was ruined, with the most damage on the left side.

“One of these apartments had smoke detectors that work, thank God, smoke detectors save lives,” Captain of Bladenboro Fire Department, Jeremy Richardson, said. “We’re firm believers in that, we see it all the time, and we’re very glad that those smoke detectors activated. This could have been a very different situation.”

First responders arrived within minutes, but it took about two hours to get the fire under control, officials said.

The American Red Cross is helping the people who were displaced.