ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A total of 23 people have been displaced after a fire at Mayflower Apartments on Meigs Street on Sunday night, the Rochester Fire Department says.

At least 70 firefighters battled the five-alarm fire. Crews arrived around 5 p.m. to find smoke coming from the third and fourth floors of the 36-unit apartment building.

Firefighters worked to evacuate residents, checking all apartments to make sure no one was trapped. They determined that the fire started in a third-floor apartment and spread through void spaces. The fire took nearly 4 and a half hours to get under control.

“Especially with buildings like this, we have to make sure that we extinguish the fire and also foresee where the fire is traveling so that it doesn’t reignite,” said RFD Lt. Jackie Sierra. “With multiple apartments, life safety is our priority, so that’s what we’re working on right now, making sure that all the fires are extinguished. With something like this, due to 36 apartments that we have to check, we have about 70 firefighters on scene right now.”

RFD says a cat was found dead in the fire. Two residents were medically evaluated but didn’t need to be taken to the hospital. No firefighters were hurt.

Residents aren’t able to return because of the fire, smoke, and water damage. The Red Cross is helping the residents who are now without a home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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