Apartment fire in suburban Lake Worth

SUBURBAN LAKE WORTH, Fla. - Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to a fire at an apartment building in suburban Lake Worth on Friday, at approximately 6:45 p.m.

The fire occurred at an apartment building at The Fountains Country Club located at 4500 Gefion Court.

Fire rescue crews were alerted after a neighbor felt heat in their apartment and maintenance crews saw smoke and fire in an apartment, said Albert Borroto, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue spokesman.

Residents in the 16 unit apartment building were evacuated for safety reasons.

The apartment where the fire originated was unoccupied and no injuries were reported.

Investigators reported maintenance work was being performed earlier on Friday in a unit on the second floor where the fire originated.

“The fire spread through the ventilation shaft to the third floor and roof of the building,” said Borroto.

About half of the units were occupied during the fire, and eight of the units were destroyed, according to the president of The Fountains Country Club.

 Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.  Some displaced residents are staying with friends or relatives, according to Barroto.

"Most of the residents that live in the building are senior citizens," said the country club president.