LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dozen of firefighters remained on scene hours after a large fire took over the 310 @ NULU apartment complex.
Firefighters towered above the building on ladder trucks, pouring water.
The water spilled out of the apartment like a waterfall and the flames lit up the neighborhood.
Residents like Andrew Adler are just grateful to be alive.
"I gathered up my cat, I gathered up my passport threw on some clothes; I scooted out the door went downstairs came outside looked up and what am I looking at, I'm looking at flames," Adler said.
The flames destroyed the nine year old apartment building that opened in 2015.
Firefighters said no one was hurt as the interior collapsed.
"Units were pancaking into the bottom of the garage where my car happens to be, clearly this was not a false alarm," Adler said.
Within the 4-story building, 37 units were occupied.
"I have resources, I'm not destitute, I'm not going to be on the street; I have friends I have colleagues that care," said Adler.
Most displaced residents are being assisted by the Red Cross.
Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said fire crews were first called around 3 a.m. for a burning smell.
Crews were then called back just after 6 a.m. when fire was coming out of the building.
"Unfortunately when you're dealing with this newer lightweight construction like this, once it gets going a little bit, it's going to take the whole structure very, very quickly," O'Neill said.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
O'Neill compared the apartment's structure to buildings built over 50 years ago.
"My house in Old Louisville could probably burn for quite awhile," he said. "Get firefighters there put it out and we could still remodel it."
Most of the residents housed in the building were med students. They're personal belongings, furniture and textbooks are now ruined.
One med student said she lost everything and all she has is clothing on her back.
Her and her husband had just moved into the complex two months ago.
They don't know what to do or where they're going to stay.
At this time Louisville Fire is continuing to closely monitor this apartment building since the interior has already collapsed and they're expecting more parts to follow.
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