SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Firefighters are at the scene of a deadly fire at an apartment complex in Altamonte Springs.
The early morning fire claimed the life of a child, the Seminole County Fire Department said Wednesday.
▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS
The three-alarm blaze broke out at the complex in the 800 block of Ballard Road shortly before 1:20 a.m.
Upon arrival, firefighters witnessed fire through the roof of the building.
READ: Weather Alert Day: Central Florida could experience powerful storms Wednesday
SCFD said more than a dozen apartments have been impacted by the fire.
Resident Joyce Brank said “I hear people screaming. Everybody get out. So I look outside and I see flames.”
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/UHIVGBCG55F2JDLKCXIIM3IMOY.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7JNPQLN2SFEE3CMEERN5E3ESKU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/ILQQ4XN7WVGY5OJJZQEL72KUXE.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/2PLAOAUKGFCVXMFXNXTSHQ2KUA.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/2C35GKTZUZHZ7NOXCZGDNBS7RQ.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/WFH5DIWB2FHPXOD6LHBMVBQYUA.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/35UQNMRIQ5BEXHRKOJGJXAPG5M.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/EMXQMYVWRZDHJNQVMSHQWDSAN4.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/3ZUAVOOBHRDQLJ4TE5Q7LRB23A.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/FR5DENJYYRCRBICR6GSW5YDAQU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/J5JH6Z4DKRGNNOVUD6K4YN6PAU.jpg)
More than 70 firefighters responded to the complex. Maitland and Longwood fire departments were called in to help SCFD units fight the fire.
The American Red Cross, Duke Energy, the State Fire Marshal and Altamonte Springs police have also responded to assist.
The American Red Cross said it will be helping the residents with a place to stay, food and clothes for the next few days until they can get back on their feet.
Fire officials also said preliminary information indicated there were no working smoke detectors.
READ: Seminole County Rotary Club closing its doors after serving community for decades
Officials said the age of the child who died in the fire was preteen and attended Lake Orienta Elementary.
Official have not released the name of the victim.
The school said it has brought grief counselors to help the children make it thorough the day.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-03-2024/t_ab82a07bdab74af396ff67d120b99b66_name_SEM_FIRE_BALLARD_CHILD_DIES_transfer_frame_254.png){kind=spacer}
#BreakingNews We are live this morning at a fatal apartment fire in the city of Altamonte Springs on Ballard st. Firefighters confirmed a child died. Watch @WFTV for more. pic.twitter.com/aHsyVMQxC8
— Q McCray (@QMcCrayWFTV) April 3, 2024
Channel 9′s Q McCray is near the scene and spoke to fire officials shortly after 4 a.m.
You can watch his live updates on Eyewitness News This Morning and monitor WFTV.com for updates on this breaking story.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2024 Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/cmg/e005958a-6454-48d3-89e9-58bcfdefde5f.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/VG5YNSJOZFB57EIPFCWKWJIRAA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/4ROFA6NFGZCJTFFLSSWT47PATA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MHREHHJH3ZCU5IM4IGN7IAO6QQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/WNHJWXNRDBEWVEY2NIJPZIC44U.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/G5M5EW6KXFFRBLA3D7BUEKE3VQ.png)