TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spent Sunday morning working to put out a fire at an apartment complex in Tampa.
Around 5:30 a.m., Fire Rescue crews responded to a report of a fire at the Del Rio Apartments, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue PIO Jessica Coy explained.
Once on scene, firefighters saw flames through the roof, Coy reported. They went into the building to check for anyone still inside the apartments.
All residents were reportedly out of the building by the time the crews arrived. People passing by were able to knock on doors and alert residents of the fire.
Coy says one of the residents said he had an issue with his exhaust fan in the bathroom.
Around 4 a.m., Jameel McMichael said he heard a pop and saw flames in his bathroom. He reportedly put the fire out with water and went back to sleep once he thought it was out.
Shortly after, smoke alarms woke him up and he saw smoke coming from the ceiling vent, Fire Rescue says. He immediately evacuated.
"It was raging fire, raging. I've never seen anything like that before," McMichael said.
The fire unknowingly spread through the attic space, the PIO explains. The four apartment units affected by the fire are a total loss.
The Central Florida American Red Cross was contacted and will be helping with shelter, food and clothing for the five adults and four children who were affected by the fire, Fire Rescue explains.
Altogether, about 16 Fire Rescue units were on scene, Coy reports. 50th Street N., south of Sligh Avenue E. was closed while crews worked the scene.