CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. (WSVN) - A fire broke out at an apartment building in Coral Springs, which displaced many residents.
Fire officials said the blaze occurred around midnight in the area of La Placida Drive and Coral Springs Drive, Wednesday.
Video footage showed the aftermath of the building where the roof of the complex caved in.
According to Fire Chief Michael Moser, it took 40 firefighters to extinguish the flames. He also noted the fire was fully involved, meaning flames breached through the roof.
“We believe it started in the back of the building and traveled up into the second floor and into the attic,” Moser said. “A lot of buildings of this age and style have a common attic area, so once that fire spreads into the attack, it is common that it affects most of the building.”
Residents said they woke up to see flames shooting from the building and evacuated the building safely.
“My nextdoor neighbor pounded on my door,” recalled one resident, Sean Warden. “She said, ‘There’s a fire,’ [and] I helped get her three cats out. By the time I got her three cats out, the fire got so big.”
Firefighters had to rescue numerous pets from the building, but residents were able to rescue more of their animals from the building during and after the burning occurred.
“I didn’t expect it to get so big so quickly,” said Warden. “They saved three of my cats, and I went back inside to find the rest of my cats.”
He was grateful fire crews helped save their lives.
“I think [a firefighter] put oxygen in the car where we temporarily placed the cats to help them out. I think that was great,” said Warden.
“The flames were about 15 to 20 feet high,” said Robert Stauffer, a neighbor, “you felt as soon as you walked out.”
All of the residents and animals inside the building were unharmed but are now displaced.
The building has been condemned.
Although the Red Cross stopped by to help out those who need a temporary home, neighbors were happy to help each other out.
“We’re a good community, and we help each other,” Stauffer said. “We help each other. We’re good neighbors, and we’re there for each other. Whatever anyone needs, we’re gonna try to get back to normal.”
The fire remains under investigation.
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