ST. CLOUD, Fla. – Lightning likely sparked a fire Monday at an apartment complex in St. Cloud , fire officials said.

The fire broke around 1:30 p.m. at St. Cloud Village.

The St. Cloud Fire Department said several calls were made to 911 when smoke started pouring from the roof of an apartment building.

“Arriving in minutes, our crews made sure all residents and their pets were safely evacuated, and quickly extinguished the fire before it could spread,” SCFD said in a post on Facebook.

Eight apartment units were left uninhabitable, and the American Red Cross will assist those who have been displaced, officials said.

Fire officials said a lightning strike is believed to have started the fire.

The St. Cloud Police Department and Osceola Fire Rescue assisted in battling the blaz

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