PHOTOS: South Meadow Apartment Fire in Ames

UPDATED:

American Red Cross has established a processing area at ISU's Willow Hall for about 80 residents displaced by a  at the complex early Sunday.

Iowa State University offered housing to the 83 displaced residents overnight Sunday and the Red Cross will assist residents at Willow Hall throug 8 p.m. Monday according to a press release from the city. Red Cross officials said just 16 people used the shelter which will remain open for a second night Tuesday.

Sunday's fire appeared to start in a carport on the building's first level, but the fire quickly spread consuming vinyl siding and then into the roof which eventually collapsed. Residents escaped unharmed, but two firefighters received treatment, one for heat exhaustion and another had a hand injury. Firefighters remained on the scene until 7 a.m. Monday, said Ames Fire Chief Clint Petersen.

Firefighters retrieved residents most critical belongings like medications, passports and computers Sunday afternoon and the property owners were allowed to begin cleaning the building's stairwells Monday morning.

About 80 tenants lived in the 56 units.

On Sunday the Red Cross set up a temporary headquarters at the Boys & Girls Club across the street and brought residents and firefighters food and water, helped translate and disseminate information and Petersen said they should be commended for their efforts.

Sunday's fire spread quickly through the roof because the building was built before fire codes mandated fire prevention in roof systems, Petersen said. He didn't expect to estimate damages but said typically most apartments are estimated at $15,000 per unit.

“This is a prime example of why fire codes are so necessary,” Petersen said. “With proper fire stopping the loss would have been much less.”