16 displaced in fire at Cobb complex

The Shepard’s Walk apartments are part of a homeless ministry.

A fire that tore through eight

units at a Cobb County apartment complex that serves as a homeless ministry displaced 16 people Monday night, authorities said.

Cobb County firefighters responded about 8:45 p.m. to the blaze at the Shepard’s Walk apartments along Osborne Road near Marietta, where flames could be seen from the second floor, department spokesman Ramses Rivas said. The fire tore through the upstairs units and the roof.

Rodney Blalock, who has lived at the apartment building for nine months, said he woke up to smoke and yelling.

“I just woke up and then come into the kitchen, I see a lot of smoke ... and as soon as I walk to the door and look down, everybody is hollering, ‘Hey, come out,’” Blalock said from the scene. “I ran downstairs and all of a sudden they say the unit is on fire.”

Blalock said about 16 people lived in the building that is run by MUST Ministries and is affiliated with Mosaic Church Marietta. A maintenance worker confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-constitution that the building was part of a homeless ministry.

When the fire was finally extinguished around 9:30 p.m., the dark, brown bricks were charred black near windows and the roof over some units had completely burned down. One resident was taken to a hospital, but Rivas did not specify their injuries. The cause of the fire remains

under investigation, Rivas said. The American Red Cross of Georgia provided emotional support and warm blankets at the scene to those impacted. Vol

unteers are also providing assistance for immediate emergency needs such as temporary hous

ing, food, clothing, health and personal care items.

JOHN SPINK/JOHN.SPINK@AJC.COM Rodney Blalock, who has lived at the Shepard’s Walk apartment complex for nine months, looks over what remained after a fire tore through eight units Tuesday. The complex, located along Osborne Road near Marietta, is run by MUST Ministries.

CONTRIBUTED Flames spewed from the top of the building and damaged multiple units. The cause of the fire is under investigation.