Angela Coleman braved a horrific fire at Adair Apartments in Wayne County, near Goldsboro, that left 50 people homeless and four hospitalized.
Coleman was one of four people transported to the hospital. She is still recovering from a broken leg and a damaged back, nearly two weeks after the fire.
Officials in Goldsboro and Wayne County Government Spokesman Joel Gillie said that the large fire was reported shortly before 2:00 p.m. on August 31 at apartments at 206 Keller Way Drive, located off U.S. 70, northwest of Goldsboro in the Rosewood subdivision.
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“It was just that fast, within seconds. It was so scary,” Coleman told CBS 17.
She told the outlet that she had to jump out of the third-floor window because the fire had rendered the stairs inaccessible, but not before saving her children and granddaughter.
Coleman said that the first person to notice the smoke coming from the window was her daughter.
“So, I said, open the front door, see where the smoke could be coming from and when she opened the door smoke was coming from the second floor coming up and she said I think something is on fire,” Coleman said.
Coleman proceeded to wake up her son, and her daughter started running down the stairs before the fire could block the stairs.
“He comes out of the room running and I think he just dived completely off the top,” Coleman said of his son.
Coleman and her five-year-old granddaughter Jourdyn were the only ones still inside at that point. However, she knew they had to leave as quickly as possible because the smoke was getting thicker.
Before rushing to her bedroom window, where many people were waiting on the ground below, she said that she wrapped a towel around Jourdyn’s and her own heads to block out the smoke.
According to Coleman, she had no choice but to gently throw Jourdyn out of the window in the hopes that those on the ground would catch her.
“I held onto her for awhile before I dropped her,” Coleman said.
Coleman then took her turn, carefully clambering out the window while clinging to the ledge.
“I held on till it wouldn’t let me hold on no more,” Coleman said.
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Then, in a life-or-death situation, she fell to to the ground.
“I had to think fast, it was no can’t think and don’t know what to do, no time for that, I had to think quick,” Coleman explained.
According to officials, team members from the Goldsboro Fire Department and numerous volunteer agencies spent over two hours extinguishing the fire, while making multiple ground ladder rescues from upper floors.
The fire was contained just after 4:30 p.m., according to a news release from the city of Goldsboro.
Coleman’s home has been destroyed, and her family is currently taking donations. She is grateful, however, that her family is still alive.
Despite minor injuries, Jourdyn and Coleman’s son have returned home from the hospital.
According to investigators, the fire was accidental. A fence now surrounds the perimeter of the Rosewood community building, which has no roof, several shattered windows, and is surrounded by ashes.
