LAUDERHILL, Fla. – Investigators are still searching for what caused an apartment fire in Lauderhill.
Lauderhill Fire Rescue responded to the Inverrary 411 Apartments at 1192 N. State Road 7 about 11:07 a.m. Friday.
"A neighbor called me saying the building was on fire," said Michelle Edmund. "I was like, 'What?'"
"The smoke woke me up and I started choking, and I just ran downstairs," said Tra'Shawn Damore.
The fire started on the fifth floor of building 1192 and was fully ablaze before many residents knew there was a fire.
"We all ran downstairs but we stopped because we saw smoke," said Corey Doe. "I know the balcony right there but I didn't know if we stayed there and waited for a long time, it'd probably be too late."
Video showed black smoke pouring out of one the apartments. Flames could also be seen from outside the balcony.
It took 22 units from five agencies about 40 minutes to get the fire under control, said firefigthers.
Firefighters used a ladder truck to rescue several residents living on the upper floors.
"They were in their apartment building with the doors closed they just couldn't get out so we had to get them down with the ladder," said Lauderhill Fire Rescue Lt. Jerry Gonzalez.
Two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters checked for smoke damage throughout the building.
The entire building was closed as the investigation continued.
It's unclear if the building will be opened sometime Friday. The American Red Cross was assisting about 51 people displaced by the fire.