CHESAPEAKE, Va. —
Jameela Dorsey remained in shock Thursday, less than 24 hours after a frantic call from her neighbor at the Thrive Apartments in Chesapeake.
“All of my stuff is thrown to the side and my floor is gone, floor gone, base floor is gone,” Dorsey said.
The Chesapeake Fire Department said a fire began in the back of second-floor units which quickly spread to at least eight nearby units through the attic space. The American Red Cross is assisting the families impacted by Wednesday's apartment complex fire.
“I had just left home and my neighbor who lives upstairs called me and was like, 'Are you OK? Where are you at?' And I was like, 'I'm at the store. What's wrong?' She's like, 'The building is on fire' and I'm like, 'What?' 'Like, you know, like on fire,'” Dorsey said.
Dorsey scrambled back to the complex to see the fire damage up close.
"It's just... it was a sickening feeling. Physically like, 'Oh my God.' This is all that I have and if I lose this, you know ... what's next?" Dorsey asked.
Just weeks away from expecting a child, Dorsey spent most of Thursday sifting through her belongings and figuring out what could be saved.
"I left home yesterday with the expectation that I was gonna come home and put my feet up on my couch and chill and fold my baby's clothes. I can't do that because I can't live in my place anymore. So to walk in today and see that it hurts, it really hurts. I didn't even want to come over here,” Dorsey said.
Thankful for being safe and having family to live with, Dorsey told 13News Now she's hoping to find a place of her own before her baby arrives.