Twenty people, including six children, were evacuated overnight after an apartment fire near Greenacres.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Capt. Albert Borroto said the fire occurred around 3:15 a.m. at the Palo Verde apartment complex located in the 6200 block of Forest Hill Boulevard.
When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke and flames coming from the complex. Eight of 12 units were damaged by fire or water. The others are affected by damage to the electrical system. Two of the 12 units were not occupied.
Cellphone video recorded by a person at the scene, Marc Baptiste, showed flames shooting from the complex.
Borroto said the Red Cross has been contacted to assist eight families displaced by the blaze.
One family said the fire alarm did not go off and smoke woke them up. They said they only had time to grab their kids and run to safety.
However, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue believes at least one was functioning because an inspector had to disable it as it was going off.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Stay with NewsChannel 5 for more details as they become available.
Clarification: it’s actually the Palo Verde Apartments. Both complexes are physically connected https://t.co/Gll5kWAaI4
— Andrew Ruiz (@AndrewRuizWPTV) April 5, 2018
Just spoke to a family who says the fire alarm did not go off, smoke woke them up, only had time to grab their kids and run. #ForestHillGardensFire@wptv@FOX29WFLXpic.twitter.com/L58ancK5dT
— Andrew Ruiz (@AndrewRuizWPTV) April 5, 2018