LANCASTER, N.Y. — Lancaster firefighters battled the cold temperatures to put out a fire at an apartment complex Monday.
Firefighters were called to the Rose Court Apartment complex on Robert Drive near Como Park just before noon.
"I was sleeping, I woke up, got dressed, obviously walked out the door, looked to my left, and started seeing smoke from the first apartment," said Scott Amendt, a resident at the complex.
Another resident said they had to exit their apartment in only a shirt and shorts without shoes to escape the fire.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries. None of the residents were hurt. Smoke and water damage is extensive throughout the building, which contains over 30 apartments.
According to Village of Lancaster Mayor Lynne Ruda, several community organizations quickly stepped up to assist over 40 people who were displaced by the fire.
"It's been amazing the coordination between the town and the village where right now, keeping everybody in the senior center with the town the youth Bureau," Mayor Ruda said. "The Senior Center staff has been incredible."
The American Red Cross of WNY also responded to the scene, as they do whenever there is a residential fire, and are trying to determine the best way to accommodate so many residents of the complex.
"Our initial response to the community is making sure that we have somewhere warm for them to go, that they have food and water," said Nick Bond, CEO of the American Red Cross of WNY.
Bond says that anyone displaced by the fire will be assigned a case worker to ensure that person secures long-term shelter.
"Our caseworkers will work with each one of the residents for 30-plus days to make sure that they're on that full road to recovery," Bond said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.