Chief says ‘hero' banged on doors to save residents from DeLand apartment fire

DELAND, Fla. — A young man is being hailed as a hero after a fire ripped through a DeLand apartment building early Wednesday, firefighters said.

Volusia County Fire Rescue and DeLand Fire Department crews responded to the building on the 600 block of Muscovy Circle about 1:30 a.m.

The fire chief said 22-year-old Zach Morrison began banging on the doors to wake people up and help get them out.

Firefighters said Morrison was the first to wake up and smell smoke. He said it was just instinct taking over.

"I was just yelling for help and I was yelling, 'Hey get out there's a fire! Wake up!'" he said.

Calvin Chisholm and his wife were two of the people who were able to escape the blaze.

"I opened my bedroom door and I look out on the back porch and the whole wall is on fire," he said.

More than 30 firefighters responded to the scene.

Six of the eight units in the building were destroyed. Firefighters said the blaze started on the second floor.

Officials said 16 people were displaced.

No injuries were reported.

Cox Media Group