By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS ó An investigation continues into the cause of a fire Friday evening at a group home for juveniles.
When a smoke alarm sounded, three juveniles and two adults inside escaped injury as flames filled the first floor of the two-story brick house at 414 N. Cannon Blvd. ó across from the Big Lots parking lot.
Firefighters arrived at 6:24 p.m. Friday to find heavy, black smoke and flames coming from both floors of the structure.
“There was a good deal of fire coming from the structure,” Battalion Chief David Winecoff said in a press release. “When I arrived on the scene, I could see flames from the floor to the ceiling on the main level and up to the second level.”
Winecoff said firefighters did an excellent job with their initial attack and had the fire under control by 7:19 p.m.
According to a Fire Department estimate, the building sustained significant fire and smoke damage. The residents went to another group home.
Information on who operates the group home or owns the building was not available Saturday.
Kannapolis police and fire investigators immediately began investigating the cause of the fire.
Twenty-four firefighters and 11 pieces of equipment responded from the city department. Concord, Landis and Odell departments also responded to the scene. China Grove and Cold Water departments assisted with coverage while Kannapolis personnel were committed.