DUPLIN COUNTY — A Sunday afternoon fire — which police believe was ignited by children — has left four families displaced in Wallace.
Emergency services including the Wallace Police and Fire Departments were contacted about a single-story apartment fire off of Glendale Village Lane, around 5 p.m. Sunday. The Wallace Police Department was the first to arrive on the scene within a minute of being notified of the flames. Police evacuated four nearby apartments.
Duplin EMS and Teachey, Rose Hill, Northeast and Pender firefighters arrived afterward to assist.
Wallace Chief of Police James Crayton said crews were able to mitigate the fire threat quickly; it took three hours to completely extinguish.
The apartment complex has significant property damage, resulting in the displacement of four families, or 15 to 20 individuals. The American Red Cross met with the individuals on the scene to provide temporary shelter and resources.
Investigators have concluded the fire began on a bed in one of the apartments. Crayton told Port City Daily the exact cause remains unknown as any evidence would have perished in the fire.
Crayton thinks there is a strong chance it was not an accident due to the nature of the fire. However, the Wallace Police Department does not plan on investigating further or pressing any criminal charges.
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