Fire marshal investigating arson at Lauderhill apartment building after furniture is set ablaze in hall

Dozens of families were out of their homes Friday after a fire at a Lauderhill apartment complex that crews are investigating as arson.

According to Lauderhill Fire Rescue, around 3:30 a.m. Friday crews arrived at the Cypress Grove Apartment Homes located at 4200 NW 19th Street and found flames coming from a fourth-floor window.

According to Lauderhill Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Levy, crews made quick entry into the building and saw that the fire was in the hallway of the fourth floor and it appeared to have been an abundance of furniture that had been set ablaze.

Per Lauderhill Fire: It appears furniture was set on fire.  The Fire Marshal has been requested for potential arson investigation and the fire is now out. @nbc6 https://t.co/6kgF4L0QfX

— Chernéy Amhara (@CherneyAmharaTV) January 19, 2024

"There was extensive smoke and flame damage to that fourth-floor corridor," Levy said. "And we were receiving additional 911 calls for people trapped in their apartments. Our direction to them was to have them shelter in place on their balconies and that we were containing the fire."

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire to prevent it from extending into the adjacent apartments.

“You couldn’t see anything and there was nobody there to direct you where to go," said one resident who managed to escape but did not want to be identified. "I was blinded. I was just trying to go down the hallway and that’s what was frightening because you think you’re going to duck and roll and all that stuff but your mind is just blank like, 'oh my God what is happening?'”

Officials said the blaze was likely set on purpose. The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating for possible arson.

“In the hallways you’re not supposed to have any storage," said Levy. "That’s one red flag. The second red flag is this 3:30 in the morning. It’s just not gonna start a fire by itself, so it is suspicious in nature.”

Although there were no reported injuries, Levy said some residents were exposed to smoke as they evacuated their apartments and have since been evaluated by fire rescue.

Lauderhill Police said fire crews made all the necessary evacuations and would be letting residents back into the building as they continue their investigation.

At this time, the first three floors were let back in, but officials said the fourth floor was uninhabitable.

The American Red Cross has been assisting those displaced. There are 24 units that make up the fourth floor.