WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — Flames illuminated the early morning sky as multiple departments responded to the scene of an apartment fire on Mentor Avenue in Willoughby.
The Willoughby Fire Department said the situation started at 5:49 a.m. Friday at the Chagrin Riverwalk Apartments, which are currently under construction.
"We arrived to find the four-story building well-involved in fire," according to the Willoughby Fire Department. "Because of the fire conditions, our main efforts were focused on the apartment buildings and occupants on either side as well as the Fine Arts building and Andrews Osborne Academy across the street."
Fire officials say the situation became a three-alarm fire with close to 20 departments responding to the scene.
Evacuees in the area were taken to a Laketran bus for shelter.
"It was bright, massive flames, biggest flames I've ever seen," resident Justin Toth said. "As soon as we walked out, I mean, the sky was just lit up."
The Lake County Sheriff's Office said the situation was along Mentor Avenue between Erie Street and Kirtland Road.
"Please use caution and an alternate route," according to a Facebook post from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Willoughby Fire Chief Todd Ungar said the main building on the complex went up in flames, with residual damage elsewhere.
"You can see all the heat damage to these apartment buildings," Ungar told 3Newa. "From what I'm told, 15 to 20 cars that burned in the parking lot."
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. We streamed extended live video from the scene, which you can watch in the player below:
Here are multiple photos from the scene of the fire:
PHOTOS | Fire in Willoughby
Want to be among the first to know the most important local and national news? You can download the free WKYC app and get the latest updates right on your phone: Android, Apple.
MORE HEADLINES: