The sight of heavy smoke was enough for some residents at 1750 Montgomery Avenue to get themselves to safety in a hurry.
"I was in my apartment and I smelled smoke and I said 'What is that?'" one victim recounted.
"I opened the door then I saw 6E, my next door neighbor, standing inside their living room in the smoke and the smoke was like coming from the ceiling and I said what, I ran inside grabbed my jacket and I ran"
Dozens of residents forced into the cold after flames swept through the sixth floor in a five alarm fire that brought crews scrambling to the scene.
"Upon arrival we had heavy fire conditions on the top floor of the building and the cockloft area," said FDNY Chief James Leonard. "There are 11 apartments on the top floor and we had fire in six of those apartments."
About 200 firefighters from 44 units helped knock down the flames.
A neighbor shot some cell phone video showing smoke billowing from the top floor while residents watched from the ground below.
"I feel so sorry right now because we are on the street we don't know where to go," said one victim.
The building's super says there was work being done in one of those top floor apartments due to a leak. As fire marshals investigate, The Red Cross set up a shelter to help those who are now homeless.
"My apartment is a bit flooded, but maybe I can manage I don't know," said one victim.
"There's at least 12 families displaced by this incident but it could be more, we're still waiting to see," said Red Cross spokesman Michael de Vulpillieres.
Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. Still there is sympathy here for those who lost their homes.
"I think this is very devastating, you know right after Thanksgiving and the families who ever live on that top floor they lost everything," said neighbor Beverly Taylor.
Seven people suffered minor injuries. Among them five firefighters. In the meantime residents tell NY1 they saw workers on the roof before the flames began. Something fire marshals are looking into as the investigation continues.