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A spirit that is not afraid

Fire at 160 Ross contained, started on roof

The fire was said to be reported at 4:15 p.m. August 3, 2015.

Firefighters responded to a fire at 160 North Ross Street on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 4:15 p.m.

The fire was contained by 5:30 p.m. and no one was injured.

Heavy smoke and fire were visible on the roof of building 4, near the northeastern side of the complex closest to the intersection of Glenn Avenue and North Debardeleben Street, according to Matthew Jordan, deputy chief with the Auburn Fire Division.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Battalion Chief Joe Lovvorn said the fire began upon the upper portions of the building and began to spread through the attic. Lovvorn also said there is nothing that seems suspicious about the fire at this time.

The Auburn Fire Division deployed every unit, including a reserve unit, to combat the flames. The city of Opelika offered an engine to assist responding to other calls as they came in at Auburn, and off-duty firefighters were called in to operate an additional engine for calls as well.

160 Ross is a new apartment complex marketed to students and is scheduled to open for the fall semester, according to its website. The only people in the building were apartment staff and construction workers, as residents have yet to move in, according to Lovvorn.

Chloe Covin, Auburn resident, lives down the street from 160 Ross. She was driving home from work when she saw black smoke from the apartment. She then called 911.

"I'm just glad no one's moved in yet," Covin said.

A call to American Campus Communities, the management company for 160 Ross, was not immediately returned.

Lovvorn said there are already crews inside the apartment making plans for repairs and cleaning.

This story will be updated as more becomes available,

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