KITCHENER -- Five Cambridge families were displaced after a weekend fire at a multi-unit residential fire.
According to the Cambridge Fire Department, crews were on scene overnight at the fire on Wellington Street South.
In a social media post on Monday, officials said there was significant structural damage to the building, but that no one was injured.
Most of the damage happened in the top level units, but fire officials said that the lower units sustained a lot of water damage.
Colleen Neary's niece was forced out of her home just after midnight.
"Literally just left the clothes on her back," Neary said. "It didn't start in her apartment, but it started in the top floor next to hers."
The damage estimate has been pegged at anywhere between $500,000 and $1 million.
"The crews did a great job of containing the fire to the upper units, however the lower units did sustain some smoke and significant water damage," said Eric Yates, fire prevention officer with the City of Cambridge.
"I'll work with my insurance company to see how much is covered and that's all I can do," landlord Frank Wang said.
The fire is not considered suspicious, but fire investigators were on scene on Monday to try to determine the cause.
The five familes are either being helped by the Red Cross or are staying with families, officials said Monday.
Most of the families said they are staying with loved ones.
"We got there maybe five minutes later and there were flames through the roof," said Sara Chaisson, the daughter of one of the victims.
Chaisson was talking to her mother on a video call when the flames spread.
"She said 'My house is on fire,' she showed me and then it hung up," Chaisson said.
In an email, a spokesperson for Red Cross said that the organization had helped 20 people who were displaced from the fire. Most of them were able to find shelter with friends and family, while two were helped with food and emergency lodging.
Several others were helped with personal and hygienic items and food.
