23 people displaced after 2-alarm fire in Virginia Beach

May 20--VIRGINIA BEACH -- The thick black smoke could be seen for miles.

"It went from nothing to blacker and blacker," said Kent Weidlich, who was on Interstate 264.

As the plume of smoke grew larger, he realized it was in the vicinity of Lynnhaven Mall and his sister's apartment complex. He sent her a text to ask about it, and she responded that the building next to hers was on fire.

"I came here right away in case we needed to evacuate," Weidlich said.

Firefighters were called to the Legends at the Beach complex in the 3100 block of Hunters Chase Drive about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

When the first-responders saw the building was fully engulfed, they immediately called a second alarm, said Battalion Chief Tracy Freeman.

Leah Malone was in her first-floor apartment when firefighters pounded on her door and yelled for her to get out. She got her son and dog and was able to escape through the front door.

Standing outside the complex's office, she looked over at the smoking remains of her building, and her hands began to shake. A firefighter was able to bring her a few possessions from her home.

Freeman said all 16 units that were damaged in the building were occupied, but no injuries were reported.

All 23 displaced residents had renter's insurance and could be housed in empty units at properties owned by The Apartment Gallery, said Cindy Kotcamp, the property manager. The Red Cross was assisting three of the residents.

The cause and origin of the fire were unknown. Investigators were to return to the scene this morning.

Pilot writer Elisabeth Hulette contributed to this story.

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Twitter user Bobby O. posted several videos from the blaze:

@BlaineStewart @WTKR3 pic.twitter.com/QayJdKCLlo

-- Bobby O. (@BobbyO_Radio) May 19, 2015

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