Dozens are homeless after a 3 alarm apartment fire ripped through 24 units Saturday night in Vancouver.

It happened at the Fox Pointe apartments in Northeast Vancouver at about 8:30 Saturday evening.

Fire investigators say someone put BBQ ashes in a paper bag on a patio and that’s what started the fire.

Once the flames hit the attic, it quickly spread to 24 units.

Officials said it was the largest fire in Vancouver in at least the last few years.

Neighbors like Jeana Curtis scrambled to make sure everyone escaped.  “So I ran over and beat on all the doors and started screaming fire, fire, everybody get out, “said Curtis.

Neighbors say someone was using a BBQ grill even though the complex doesn’t allow them.

A man named Rick who would not provide his last name said, “I went into the kitchen to get a beer and I just saw the flames shooting up and it was eating up the blinds and then the window blew out and it cut my foot and burned me because it was hot glass.”

No one was seriously hurt but two firefighters had to be treated for heat exhaustion. 

Every fire unit in Vancouver responded and it still wasn’t enough to control the fire.  Crews from Portland were called in to assist.

An emergency shelter has been set up at Fort Vancouver high school for the fire victims. 

Officials with the Southwest Washington Chapter of the American Red Cross said the fire exhausted their resources. Anyone interested in donating money may call 360-693-5821, extension 135.