Massive fire destroys Brookhaven apartment complex on New Year's Day

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.

Video shared with FOX 5 shows a massive inferno, flames shooting through the roof.

The blaze forced one girl to jump from the second floor to escape. She was taken to the hospital.

"Our investigators are here, but it doesn't appear to be fireworks related as it looks to have started inside the building but that's not to say it's not the case. But the fire looked as if it started inside the building," Capt. Daniels said.

Crime scene tape surrounded the burned-out skeleton of the apartment. Several people were at the fully scorched structure sifting through the debris, hoping to find important and invaluable belongings, with no luck.

"I live there on the second floor. My cousin comes to visit for New Year's right here," said Elmr Rovero.

Rovero says he has lived here for more than two years. He says he recently told management of possible unhoused people living in vacant units. 

"Two, three months ago, I took to the office, and said that someone broke the door, and they are going in," said Rovero.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Capt. Daniels said it doesn't appear to be fireworks-related