PHOTOS, VIDEO:Iowa City apartment fire leaves ten homeless

A fire at an apartment house in Iowa City has left ten people without a home.

Around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, crews responded to 515 College St. where the house was quickly engulfed in smoke and flames.

As the sun set and temperatures dropped, light gray smoke billowed far above the residence and flames were visible above the roof that eventually sunk in.

Olga Mironova, a tenant of the home who lives above the basement, said she first became suspicious when she smelled smoke coming from the vents.

Though she didn't initially think much of it and assumed it was just someone smoking, Mironova, a UI student from Russia said she eventually became alarmed enough to tell her neighbors to call 911.

Mironova then saw flames coming through a hole in her bedroom floor and quickly grabbed her passport and ran out the door.

Though she thinks she's lost all her possessions, she tried to remain upbeat.

“You have to see good in something like that,” she said, referring to being lucky enough to have grabbed that.

Firefighters from Coralville, North Liberty, Solon and West Branch assisted Iowa City battle the “alarm three” blaze for a few hours, but worked long into the night to begin investigating and to ensure all hot spots were put out, according to Battalion Chief Ken Brown.

He estimated around $100,000 in damage was done to the residence, but no injuries were reported.

The house was built in 1925 and was later transformed into a multiple apartment home with an addition - both areas sustained severe water and smoke damage. The property is owned by John and Jo Ellen Roffman, according to the Iowa City Assessor's Website.

The American Red Cross and Salvation Army are assisting the residents.

[nggallery id=129]

[mappress]