Crews work through the night repairing building after Orlando condo fire

Crews were out early Friday after working through the night at the Regency Gardens condo complex, boarding up damaged buildings and cleaning up after a fire that left 58 people without a home.

Investigators said the fire likely started in the mulch near a chimney before spreading to the building.

The blaze displaced 58 people, 24 of them children, and seven pets.

It started at the complex near Orlando International Airport just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

An Orlando Fire Department spokesperson said it’s similar to what happened earlier this month at a complex 10 miles away.

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Firefighters said they probably won’t ever know the cause of the fire and are ruling it accidental.

A resident said he’s relieved his 1-year-old, along with everyone else and their pets, made it out safely.

“I took my son. That’s my first priority, is my son and my kids. I knocked on everybody’s door because I live in the building and, you know, everybody has a family,” said resident Angel Munoz.

Catherine Varela has lived in the complex for three years. She showed Channel 9 pictures of the damage inside her unit.

“I was pretty much in shock. I didn’t think it was that bad,” she said.

Residents are calling an Orlando police officer a hero his quick actions.

Cpl. Jason Engelhardt was passing by the apartment when he heard the fire alarm and started to evacuate residents.

“We went door to door trying to get everybody out,” said Engelhardt.

The Red Cross is helping five families find a place to stay, while the other victims are staying with friends and relatives.

Cox Media Group