Alachua County Fire Rescue needed help from Gainesville Fire Rescue on Wednesday night to put out the largest fire they've seen this year.
ACFR got the call that a 16-apartment building was ablaze at Paddock Club of Gainesville Apartments on Fort Clark Boulevard at 7:48 p.m. and responded in minutes, according to ACFR spokeswoman Carol Davis.
When the 11 units arrived, they found the whole building engulfed in flames, with fire shooting through the roof, Davis said.
Officials only were able to check half the building for trapped residents before the roof caved in, forcing everyone to evacuate, she said.
Twenty-eight adults and seven children were counted as displaced.
The Red Cross is currently providing shelter and counseling to the fire victims, she said.
No injuries have been reported so far, although officials must wait until morning for an official headcount, she said.
Davis said most, if not all, of the building is a loss.
The state fire marshall headed to the scene to complete the official investigation and determine the cause. His conclusion could take days, she said.
