Four people are in serious condition at an area hospital and dozens of people are out of their home following a late-night apartment fire in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

Officials with the Minneapolis Fire Department responded to reports of someone possibly starting a fire just after 9:30 p.m. at Stadium Place Apartments, located off 11th Avenue South near East 15th Street in the city’s Elliot Park neighborhood.

A statement by a Minneapolis Fire Department spokesperson says crews responded to reports of ‘someone possibly starting a fire.’ Arriving firefighters were confronted with heavy flames on a rear stairwell, which spread to other parts of the four-story building.

“It was really big, it was really scary,” recalls Lenore Matthews, who lives next door. “Huge flames and black smoke. You couldn’t see anything. Fire was just everywhere.”

Flames and heavy smoke were seen on the third floor, and crews used ladders to rescue several people hanging from their apartment windows. Nearly four dozen firefighters helped were at the scene.

“There were reports of people that had their windows open and were leaning out of the window,” says Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker. “We risk a lot to save a lot, so we will go in to save lives.”

Fire officials say three people – two adults and a child – are being treated for burns and a fourth, identified as an adult, was treated for smoke inhalation.

Two firefighters were also evaluated at the scene for overexertion but were released. In addition, a dog was rescued and provided oxygen before being reunited with its owner.

“It just kept constantly flaming up. Every time they tried to put it out, it was just ridiculous,” added Latasha, who has family members who lived in the building. “I came out, and I see the lady was hanging her baby out the window, trying to ask them for help.”

As flames climbed high into the sky in downtown Minneapolis, it was a terrifying scene for Latasha. She said her family members made it out without injuries.

People who live nearby made it their mission to do what they can. Helios C. brought masks to the scene if people were having trouble with the smell of smoke.

The night of the fire, she opened her home to tenants who needed it after they were displaced.

“I would want somebody to care about me. I’ve been homeless for a very long time and all these people just became homeless and we need to care about each other,” Helios said.

Amid the chaos, Sonny Metcalf, his partner Shania, and their three kids were returning from a dinner out, when they saw their building in flames.

In a crowd funding post, which can be found by CLICKING HERE, Metcalf says everything his family had worked for, was gone.

Firefighters were still at the building at 5 a.m. Wednesday to keep hot spots from flaring up. That afternoon, work crews were sealing off the building with plywood boards.   

Officials add they’re worried about the roof – which drone video shows is heavily damaged – caving in. Another video shared with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS shows blackened, gutted hallways.

Another woman spoke with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, saying, “Me and my friend just saw flames coming out when we were driving back from Wisconsin, and we’re just worried that our friend’s apartment was burning down. We just saw a lot of smoke and it was hard to breathe, the flames were being put out by the firefighters.”

The Red Cross was called in to help residents, and two buses were also brought in to give shelter for about 30 total residents.

Matthews’ home next door has signs of smoke damage, but she says she’s thinking about her neighbors who’ve lost everything.

“Just to know that people are displaced, you know. You’re not human if you don’t feel something,” she says. “It’s sad. Anything that affects another human being affects everyone, especially in your neighborhood.”

As of this time, the cause of the fire is still being investigated.