SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A large apartment fire broke out Tuesday morning at a complex in Seminole County.
Video from the scene showed crews fighting the flames at the Sapphire at Winter Park Apartments, just off State Road 436 near Howell Branch Road.
The fire was knocked down and confined to a single unit, but there was smoke extended into nearby units, according to the Seminole County Fire Department.
The department said an occupant in the apartment said a candle was left unattended, though the cause of the fire is still being investigated.
“With a structure like this, our big concern was at 6 o’clock in the morning there are people that were still sleeping that had no idea this fire was active. So, we had multiple units going door-to-door making sure everyone was evacuated,” Lt. Dave Williams with SCFD said.
A spokesperson for the department said there are 12 units being assessed and there were no injuries.
“As soon as I looked out the window, I could see the apartment next to me was fully engulfed in flames,” said Tori Henderson, who lives next door to the apartment that caught fire. “... I grabbed my cat and ran out.”
Red Cross will be contacted once the department determines how many people are displaced.
This is a developing story and will be updated with more information as we receive it.
2 alarm fire 5:38am Saphire Winter Park Apartments on 1703 N Semoran Blvd. One apartment unit reported on fire. Fire contained to 1 unit. Fast attack & smoke extension to other adjacent units. No injuries. Cause undetermined as fire investigator there. 📸 Norm Reyburn (1 of 2) pic.twitter.com/XHLO1yBdsE
— Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) PIO Media (@scfdpio) August 15, 2023
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