Atlanta Apartment Fire | The Bell Collier Village

ATLANTA — After a massive fire broke out in the rooftop kitchen of Bell Collier Village on Saturday, authorities now say it will be at least another day before anyone can enter the building to retrieve personal belongings.

Atlanta Fire and Rescue said firefighters battled the flames at 1950 Howell Mill Road NW, where the Bell Collier Village apartment complex is located.

A letter addressed to residents of the complex stated that access to the building “cannot be granted until it has been confirmed that it is safe to do so.”

Dominic Fondon and his family live near where the fire started.

“I took my family and left. When I got here, I saw the whole roof on fire,” Fondon said.

Atlanta Fire and Rescue now says several factors made fighting the fire difficult.

“It was too dangerous with some collapses happening. We had some collapses from fire damage and water damage,” said Jeff Cutrer of Atlanta Fire and Rescue.

RELATED: Residents displaced after multiple floors of Atlanta apartment complex collapse following massive fire

According to a statement from the Red Cross, the organization hopes to help more than 100 people displaced by the fire, but residents we spoke to said they are still waiting for help.

“They said we don’t have enough people here to need help to get us into shelters. She then said maybe we could get a room, maybe per person, but they weren’t very accommodating at all. We’re still waiting for their response,” said Salik Van Holten, a resident.

A representative for the complex told residents that a structural engineer would have to inspect the property before anyone would be allowed to enter.

Some residents are not only forced out of their homes but are unable to access their cars because the parking lot is located under the most damaged section.