Firefighters are investigating a huge apartment fire that forced five people out of their home.

"I was shaking I was scared," said neighbor Dominique Cordisco, "I didn't know if it was going to spread or anything."

Cordisco said she didn't know what happened until she looked next door.

"All I heard is glass shattering and all you can see is smoke and it was just really bad."

The fire started at the La Estancia apartments around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aaron Puga was smoking outside when he noticed the flames outside his second floor apartment.

"You could see the flames; you could see our blinds melting and everything so we just had to leave."

The fire started in a first floor porch, then spread to the kitchen and the ceiling inside.  The fire also spread to the balcony above.

Puga watched firefighters work to put out his burning second-floor apartment.

"Our whole back porch and everything is completely destroyed," said Puga

Puga told KFOX14 he and his roommates were about to go to sleep when he noticed the fire coming from downstairs.

"I feel lucky that we were awake and we were literally about to fall asleep. I feel lucky that we got out," said Puga.

Other first-floor neighbors also escaped, their apartment gone.

Cordisco said she's glad her home wasn't destroyed, but says her friend has a lot to clean up.

"The back door and the sliding back door is gone, the kitchen window is gone, and everything it's really bad."

No one was hurt in the fire.

The Red Cross offered the victims a place to stay, but all are staying with family and friends.

Damage is estimated at $40,000.