JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A large overnight fire damaged several units at Arlington apartment complex and forced dozens of people out of their homes.
Jacksonville Fire Rescue was called to the Lansdowne Crossing Apartments on Lansdowne Drive, just across the road from Parkwood Heights Elementary School.
Several units responded along with Red Cross to help dozens of families forced out by the flames. The Red Cross said that they assisted 32 people from 16 units.
"I went in the back and I looked and I seen the fire coming out the roof in the back," said Chris Ashley, who lives in the complex. "I couldn't get too close because the fire department was there. I see some of the flames coming out of the roof, it was pretty intense."
LISTEN: 911 calls report fire
JFRD has not said what started the fire, how many units were damaged or if anyone was hurt.
Jennifer Mitchell told News4Jax that her pregnant daughter and her grandson live in the building. She said that smoke detectors did not have batteries and that another man warned her daughter of the fire. Mitchell said that her grandson just turned 1 and that the baby stuff is basically gone. She said that the boy was taken to the hospital to make sure his breathing was ok.
Another resident, Dwight Prindle, said that he only had a few seconds to get his wife and 1-year-old son out of the apartment. They're now staying with his mother-in-law in another building in the complex.
"I heard neighbors say the fire was just blazing in the back of the building. I just knew it was bad," said Anthony Robinson, who lives in the building next door to the fire. "I was just praying that the fire wouldn't spread and that the fire department had actually caught it."