FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Dramatic new video obtained by Local 10 News captured the aftermath of a massive fire that authorities say tore through a four-story condo building in Fort Lauderdale late Tuesday night, forcing dozens of residents to evacuate.
It happened at a building located along the 600 block of Tennis Club Drive.
Authorities said the fire started around 7:30 p.m. and was contained to a storage space above an elevator shaft in the four-story building.
11 p.m. report:
The fast-moving flames ripped through the roof of the Tennis Club condo community sending plumes of fire and smoke into the night sky.
Due to the containment, most units did not suffer any smoke, water or fire damage.
“We saw the fire, it was on the fourth floor and at first it wasn’t too big, so we thought we could extinguish it with a fire extinguisher,” said resident Farhin Haque, who evacuated her family before rushing to alert neighbors.
“The fire was just spewing and spewing and getting bigger, and my neighbor called 911. That’s when I yelled, ‘Everybody get out of the building!’ So everyone could get out as fast as possible. We were all just banging on each other’s doors,” Haque added.
Video from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue showed crews battling the flames on the fourth floor, successfully containing the fire to a storage area above the building’s elevator shaft.
Thanks to their efforts, FLFR officials said the 24 condo units sustained only minor water, fire and smoke damage.
“Anytime a fire vents through the roof of a building, it’s a challenging situation because it gets into certain crevices and becomes more difficult for us to extinguish,” said FLFR Chief Stephen Gollan.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Residents said the building’s fire alarms did not go off.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said the department heard that from multiple people and is looking into why the fire alarms failed.
It is expected that most, if not all residents, will be allowed back inside their homes sometime Tuesday night.
No injuries were reported.