Eleven people are homeless after a fast-moving fire gutted a condominium complex in a Coconut Creek retirement community Monday.
Chopper 6 spotted the fire at Wynmoor Village located at 1105 Bahama Bend just before 3:30 p.m.
Officials said about seven or eight units in the building, which contains condos for people 55 and older, were involved in the fire.
"Extensive damage to the building, both fire and smoke and water damage. The second story, there are like seven apartments that have been damaged by the fire," said Tony Avello, of Coconut Creek Fire and Police.
Video from Chopper 6 showed flames shooting from the roof of the two-story building. Parts of the roof later collapsed.
Coconut Creek firefighters were using a ladder truck to douse the flames. Pompano Beach and Coral Springs fire departments were also at the scene assisting, and all of Margate's fire trucks were on the scene, NBC 6's Martha Sugalski reported.
Officials said they had the fire contained by about 5 p.m.
One woman suffered minor smoke inhalation and was taken to a hospital. Some residents were treated and given oxygen at the scene. Officials continued to investigate, but said they believe everyone escaped the fire.
Residents said the fire disrupted an otherwise peaceful community.
"I heard knocking on the door and I said, 'Hold on a minute.' I had to put my pants on before I came to the door. So, I came out and there was a lot of smoke, then I stood out for a while. Then I went back, got the keys to my car and pulled it away from the building," one resident said.
"We heard noise, yelling," resident Madeline Ignacius-Aquino said.
"'Get out. Call 911,' so we got out of the apartment. I looked out, and I saw smoke passing my window, so we left," resident Jack Boss said.
"Then I stayed a few minutes longer to get something, my pills, and then I came down, and I could hardly see," Ignatius-Aquino said.
One woman, who said the fire woke her up from an afternoon nap, only escaped her home with the clothes on her back.
"I lost everything. And, I'm happy I'm alive, yes, and I'm happy everybody got out. Everybody here lost everything. We went through the hurricane. We're in the damaged buildings, and now we're doing this," the woman said.
Red Cross workers were at the scene to assess the situation and possibly provide temporary shelter for the residents.
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