Columbus firefighters battle apartment fire on east side

Updated: This story was updated at 10:15 p.m.

Columbus firefighters have been on the scene of a serious fire at an apartment complex Sunday night on the east side of Columbus.

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department, says that firefighters were called to the 300 block of Wint Lane to Stonegate Apartments at about 5:45 p.m. Sunday after heavy smoke was seen coming from the roof of a two-story apartment building.

Wilson says firefighters made an aggressive interior attack to the second floor of the building, but low visibility and high heat forced firefighters to pull out of the building and fight the fire defensively.

Firefighters directed streams of water into the roof, a large portion of which had burned away.

It took about two hours to get the fire under control. Due to the hot and humid conditions, a number of off duty firefighters were called in the assist at the incident. Wilson said that five engine companies took part in the operations.

Stonegate Apartment property officials said 12 apartment units were damaged in the fire and 18 tenants were displaced. Red Cross and Salvation Army are working to help the families.

Wilson said lightning had been reported in the city and investigators are working to determine if that was a contributing factor in the blaze.