Fort Lauderdale Apartment Fire: What We Know So Far

A fire on the fourth floor of a Fort Lauderdale apartment building was quickly contained, and officials say no injuries or damage to residences have been reported so far.

According to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, firefighters battled the blaze for about 45 minutes before calling it under control and containing it to the origin. Chief Steve Gollan said crews found heavy smoke and flames and used aerial ladders and hose lines to knock down the fire.

Officials said the fire was limited to a storage area or common area and the roof above it, with little, if any, damage reported inside the units. CBS News Miami reported the fire began in a fourth-floor storage unit. The cause remains under investigation, according to officials.

Residents evacuated safely and were later allowed to return to their apartments, according to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and news reports. Fire officials said residents should be able to sleep in their own beds tonight.

The response involved Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue crews and an aerial operation, which indicates firefighters used elevated access to reach and suppress fire spread on the upper floor and roof area. No road closures or traffic disruptions were reported in the available coverage.

Dispatch records show this is one of 859 similar structure fire incidents reported in Fort Lauderdale over the past six months, underscoring how frequently crews respond to building fires in the city.

What happens next depends on the fire investigation, which remains open as officials work to determine the cause and whether any additional damage was discovered after the scene was secured.

Day.News will continue to update this story as officials release more information.

Related: Structure Fire Contained at Fort Lauderdale Apartment Building on SW 4th Ave