VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) -
Firefighters in Valdosta are still trying to figure out what caused a weekend apartment fire that led to dramatic rescues and left dozens of people homeless.
Some of those families were out Monday gathering their items from building E at The Commons as that apartment complex works to find other apartments for them.
After this building at The Commons caught fire, those who lived there were out loading up their cars and trucks. They're salvaging what they can while coping with what happened.
"I was trying to find my wife and kids," said Adam Booth.
Adam Booth ran an errand and when he returned the building was up in flames and smoke.
"My two children were in the apartment when someone came and knocked on my door and let us know the fire was there," said his wife Crystal Booth.
People were climbing down balconies. One woman even had a baby in her arms. Firefighters say another woman dropped a child from the second floor into a sheet held by bystanders. DeRoyce Williams is six years old.
"Somehow the blanket slipped," said Booth. "He hit the blanket and bounced back up and hit his head on the pavement."
"Bedding is not made for rescue work and people are just in dire straits and want to try to do anything they can," said Chief J.D. Rice.
The boy is out of the hospital and recovering.
Firefighters were in the process of setting up their ladders and told the people to wait and not to let go of the child.
For those who live in the building, if their furniture wasn't completely destroyed by fire, it was damaged by smoke and water.
"I hope they can pick up the pieces," said Adam Booth.
Adam Booth says while most of their belongings are filled with smoke and he doesn't have much furniture in the new apartment he says sadly others have it a whole lot worse.
Firefighters rescued six people from the second and third level.
Mathis City Auditorium was used as a shelter Sunday night. It closed Monday at noon.
Some people are in hotels until more apartments are ready for them.
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