Flames destroy North Naples apartment building

NORTH NAPLES, Fla. A firefighter was hurt and a building was destroyed in a fire Monday afternoon at Bear Creek Apartments, the North Collier Fire Rescue District said.

The firefighter was taken to a hospital with unknown injuries but is expected to be OK, according to the district. He and another firefighter were temporarily trapped inside the building when the roof partially collapsed.

The fire forced the evacuation of 47 residents from the apartments on 2367 Bear Creek Drive, the district said. Four units were burned in a 12-unit building that will have to be condemned. The rest of the units in the building have water damage.

Residents in nearby buildings smelled smoke for about an hour before anyone called 911, according to the district. It’s unclear why they waited and how the fire started.

The American Red Cross was on scene to assist evacuees.

Fire officials displayed the massive flames on Facebook:

WINK News reporter Olivia Mancino went live via Facebook from the scene: