ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --
Crews remain at the scene of an apartment fire in southwest Albuquerque that left dozens of residents displaced Tuesday evening.
Firefighters were called to the 1500 block of Central Avenue at about 8 p.m. Tuesday.
About 20 units at Castle Apartments were destroyed. Officials said residents who lived in the historic complex are safe, but many said they were worried about pets left inside.
"I just want to know where my cats are, if they're safe. I don't care about my stuff, I just care about them," said Lindsey Bowman who lived on the ground floor.
Bowman got a pleasant surprise Wednesday morning, as fire crews spotted one of her cats from an overhead view.
"It was kind of hunched down and it was wet," said Albuquerque firefighter Gabe Chiswell, "and it curled up into the windowsill."
Crews worked through the night to douse flames that flared up and ensure they didn't spread to nearby power lines and trees.
Holly Victorson was cooking dinner Tuesday night, when a neighbor told her about the fire.
"I grabbed my purse," said Victorson. "I was able to grab an external hard drive and luckily I grabbed my cell phone charger."
Watching fire crews dousing all 20 apartments a day later, she's still in shock. Even though the fire started on the opposite side of the complex, she sees she has nothing left.
"It's just devastating," said Victorson. "You just don't think this is going to happen to you, ever."
Fire crews blasted water at the building all day long, putting out any hot spots that flared up. Crews said that process may continue into Wednesday evening.
Washington Middle School was closed Wednesday because electricity had to be cut off to the area. It was restored around 2 p.m. Officials said classes will resume Thursday.
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