COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nearly 40 people are without a home after a fire engulfed an apartment complex in Harbison on Saturday.
This happened at the Harbison Gardens Apartments off Columbiana Drive and the Columbia Fire Marshal has said the cause of the fire was unattended cooking.
Some families finally had the opportunity to go inside their apartments, many telling News 19 they're preparing to "start over" after the flames left them with nothing.
Miguel Flores reflected on the night. He says he was watching TV with his family when he stepped outside and saw the blaze.
His oldest son Jeremiah, 13, says he was shaken up, but did his best to help.
"My dad runs outside and I checked to see what's going on and we just see fire," Jeremiah said.
"It seems like the flames shot out the apartment and hit the other apartment across from it," Flores said, "and then, when it did that, it just went straight up in the air and it just caught everything on top."
He quickly gathered his three sons and their cousins and escaped before the fire engulfed the building.
"I was scared at first," Jeremiah said. "I tried to get my guinea pig, but I couldn't."
"I told them to grab their cousins, I closed the door behind me and we just came across the street," Flores said. "I was just happy to be out of there and that my family was out in time."
That was Saturday night.
Flores, like many, tells News 19 he left with just the clothes on his back.
On Sunday, he finally had the chance to see inside and said he wasn't quite sure what to expect for the days ahead.
"My main concern is just making sure that they have a roof over their head and they have clothes on their back and everything's straight with them," Flores said.
According to Flores, their belongings received water damage, but everyone is okay, including Jeremiah's guinea pig.
"The fire department went to go get him," Jeremiah said. "I was really excited like I was crying and I just ran up and then I just got him and I just picked him up to see if he was okay."
Flores says his family is receiving help from the Red Cross.
Columbia Fire officials say no serious injuries were reported.