Neighbors describe escaping fire at Shoreline Apartments

Neighbors rushed to safety at Shoreline Apartments after a fire started to rip through the building.

With permission from his mother, 11-year-old Devohn McCollum spoke to us about what he saw.

“I just seen some fire and I went out there because I smelled it, because it was real lit and it caught the trees,” McCollum said.

PHOTOS: Fire at Shoreline Apartments

Sky Action News Jax was there as firefighters worked to put out hot spots.

Neighbor Leon Presley was in the apartment when the flames started.

“I was almost asleep and I smelled smoke so I look up and see flames shooting up the kitchen window so I go to the kitchen window and the flames and smoke start shooting through the kitchen window and then the window busts,” Presley said.

He said the fire was spreading quickly.

“I didn’t think I was going to make it because I got to the back door, there’s smoke and flames, you can’t see. So I open the door and smoke's shooting in, so I thought, 'If I’m going to die I’m going to shoot down the stairs. I don’t have any other options,'” Presley said.

According to the fire chief on scene the fire most likely started from a vacant apartment below Presley’s.

They don’t know what caused it so the state fire marshal will investigate.

Seven adults and an 18-month-old are getting help from the Red Cross.

The 18-month-old's mother says everything was destroyed in the fire and her child needs clothes. To help out the mother, you can contact her here.

Cox Media Group