Fire rips through North Lauderdale rental building
FORT LAUDERDALE - Nearly a dozen people were forced out of their homes after a fire erupted in a North Lauderdale rental building.
The fire started Tuesday morning around 1:30 a.m. at the building on SW 10th Street just east of North Lauderdale Avenue.
"What's happening? I said what's happening? And then I just see the smoke. I switched the light on and I saw the smoke so I just opened the door. To try to get the fresh air and then I see the fire," said Gillian White.
White, who left her unit with just the clothes on her back, work clothes in her arms, and a backpack, ran to wake her neighbors.
"There were flames popping out, glass breaking, the windows breaking. I just ran out the back and knocked on the door and I said everybody there's a fire and we should get out, we should just get out," said White.
Nine people who live in the units were able to escape and no injuries were reported.
While what sparked the fire is under investigation, some apartments sustained more damage than others.
Firefighters said the apartments share an attic which made it easy for the fire to spread.
"It's basically a total loss and it happens frequently, the smoke and the water damage, it travels into the other units. This is like a six-plex. So a lot of the other units, they all definitely have smoke damage and most of them have water damage," said Elias Mena with the Rapid Recovery Team.
Those other units with smoke damage include Desmond Reilly. He said he's concerned about what comes next.
"I'm a little nervous and uncertain. Am I going to be able to go back in my home? What's going to happen?" he said.
The Red Cross is assisting those who need a place to stay.