BOISE -- Neighbors leaped into action after a fire broke out in a Boise apartment complex during the early morning hours Friday.
The fire started at about 1:20 a.m. at the Aberdeen Apartments, located off of Fairview Avenue and Allumbaugh Street.
Boise Fire Battalion Chief Aaron Hummel said people nearby heard an "explosion" before spotting flames on one of the buildings in the complex. The witnesses alerted the fire department and rushed to wake up the residents still sleeping inside the burning building.
"The folks who called 911 after hearing the explosion, they live in the apartment complex across the street," Hummel said. "They ran across the street and were trying to evacuate people, banging on doors."
Several displaced in Aberdeen Apartments fire
By the time firefighters arrived, the flames had spread to a second building.
"Crews were able to get those knocked down fairly fast, but not before it did an extend underneath the building," he said. "We currently have crews inside that are having to cut the floor out to be able to get access underneath and make sure we have the fire completely out."
All the residents were able to get out safely, but several of the units are damaged severely enough as to be unlivable. The Burnout Fund will assist the people who have been displaced, Hummel said.
The people that live in the damaged unit tell us the Boise Fire Department responded fast and were able to help save a lot of their stuff inside.
"We ran outside, and all of this as you can see was demolished, open fire, and then smoke started filling our house, we got our dogs, wallets, phones chargers, we ran outside and it just got bigger," said Madelyn Bond.
There is some significant damage to the inside of the unit.
The cause of the fire is undetermined, but it looks like something might have gone wrong with an air conditioning unit on the outside of the building. Boise Fire is investigating.
Property managers are trying to help the displaced residents find another place to stay, possibly moving into another unit that could soon be available in the same complex.
The women we spoke with are trying to raise money online to help them make ends meet until they can get some insurance help.