The Brief
- A fire severely damaged the Royale Apartments on Buford Highway in Brookhaven early on New Year’s Day.
- The blaze forced a girl to jump from the second floor to escape; she was taken to the hospital.
- Investigators believe the fire started inside the building and do not suspect fireworks as the cause.
- Residents, including Elmr Rovero, reported concerns about unhoused individuals in vacant units prior to the fire.
- The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with crime scene tape surrounding the charred remains of the complex.
BROOKHAVEN, Ga. – There is little left after a fire tore through an apartment complex along Buford Highway in Brookhaven shortly after the ringing of the New Year.
The fire broke out sometime before 5 a.m. at the Royale Apartments on the 3600 block of Buford Highway.
“It appeared the fire had been going for a long time prior to our arrival given that the building had already collapsed partially. It presented some challenges given that the hydrant was some distance from the building,” said Capt. Jaeson Daniels, of DeKalb County Fire Rescue.…