Many residents in a South Austin apartment complex no longer have a home.

Most of the 24 apartments that caught fire at the Retreat at Barton Creek Apartment Complex on S. Lamar were destroyed. By the time firefighters arrived around 3:00 Sunday afternoon the fire was already rising through the roof. It's not clear whether or not any smoke or fire alarms in the units were working.

“It's kind of scary because I don't know if it's going to still spread. I still see flames,” said resident Jamison Wieting while firefighters were still on scene.

Wieting lives in a unit just across from Building 15, where the fire started. He didn't take a chance once he saw the flames.

“I just grabbed my cat as fast as I could, and I just got a change of clothes and I left. I was like 'I'm not going to stay, I'm not going to risk that,'” said Wieting.

Many residents stood around and watched the firefighters douse the flames.

“That's a lot of damage,” said apartment resident, Michelle Rivera.  “I'm just wondering if it was the building itself or a careless mistake.” The fire crews worked from the top, the ground, and from inside.

Investigators believe the fire started because someone was smoking on one of the building's balconies and didn’t put it out well enough.

It was the type of a careless mistake some residents were afraid of.

The structural damage is estimated at $1.75 million and $500,000 in the damage of contents. Firefighters say it could have been worse. Everyone inside got out alive and without injuries. Other residents helped make sure that happened.

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“I ran over here and just banged on doors and stuff. The ones that weren't unlocked I went inside. I didn't see anybody; didn't find anybody,” said Gutierrez.

The American Red Cross is helping the displaced families find a new place to stay. For now no charges have been filed.