Jacksonville firefighters put out flames at apartment complex

Three families are displaced after a stove fire spread to several units at a Jacksonville apartment complex, officials said.

Firefighters fought flames at Bentley Green Apartments on Princeton Square Boulevard for more than an hour on Saturday night.

Action News Jax reporter Kevin Clark was there as firefighters called in more units after fire started at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Photos: Firefighters fight flames at Southside apartment complex

Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department called in double the amount of firefighters after flames spread from the first floor to the second, officials said.

Police helped evacuate people from nearby apartments as firefighters used pipe ladders to put out the fire.

Louise Approvato said the officers pounded on her door and told her she had one minute to get out.

“My husband only has one leg so he had to get his leg on. Get him out and get the dogs out," Approvato said.

Randall Jackson says it started at his apartment when his wife was cooking on their stove.

“She turned off the stove, but the fire was still going and what not," Jackson said. "She saw smoke coming through the vents."

Laurie Peace said she lives in the apartment building in front of where the fire broke out.

She said she ran home from work to try and let her cats out.

“I have animals in there. I don’t know if my animals were even alive," she said.

Red Cross is helping the families that were displaced and no one was injured in the fire, officials said.

Cox Media Group