14 without homes after fire rips through Bradenton apartment complex

BRADENTON, Fla. - More than a dozen people are out of their homes Wednesday after a fire ravaged their apartment complex in Bradenton. Most of those who lived in the burning building were not home at the time, but It was a startling sight in the middle of the day. 

Firefighters got the call about a building on fire at Carlton Arms Apartments, on the 3100 block of Castleton Drive, around 3:30pm.

"I couldn’t believe the amount of smoke that was coming out," said resident Karen Aldridge.

Chris Karvelis and his wife, Tammy, live on the first floor and immediately made phone calls and knocked on doors to alert their neighbors. 

"I just happened to look out real quick and the thing was ablaze next door. We just started yelling we got a real bad fire, we gotta yell upstairs," said Karvelis.

Tammy she went to check on her neighbor who works a night shift. She likely saved her life. 

"I ran up the stairs to get her out besides she was sound asleep, and she would have never heard," said Tammy. "It would have been on fire by the time. She wouldn’t have been able to get out. There was smoke in the hallway when we ran down. That’s how fast it went."

SkyFOX showed Bradenton firefighters spraying the fire for hours. The roof collapsed as they battled flames.

"Just watching the whole building go up, I’ve never seen anything like it," said Rachel Blanco, who lives in one of the buildings next door. 

The fire chief said no one was hurt, but a few pets died in the fire. He said weather played a role in the fire's rapid spread.

"You can tell it’s somewhat of a windy day here today which contributes to the fire and the spread," said Bradenton Fire Chief Tim Geer.

Christopher Tittel came home to see his home burning. He immediately worried about his dog, Frank.

"The neighbors found him, and I had to ask the firemen. They said they had pulled a couple of dogs out of the building," said Tittel. "I’ve still got my truck. I can still go to work. I can still do things. It’s just a matter of where I lay my head at night and where Frank Tittel lays his head at night."

Those who lost everything said they are thankful to be alive.

"We all got out safe. That’s the biggest thing," said Tammy Karvelis. "That’s just stuff. It’s just stuff."

The fire chief said 14 residents are displaced from the fire, and investigators are working to figure out how it started.