Residents of York Creek Apartments in Comstock Park were displaced early Saturday morning after a lightning strike sparked a fire that extended to the roof of the building.

The Alpine Township Fire Department responded to 4184 Alpenhorn around 1:15 a.m. When crews arrived, flames were visible coming from the roof of the complex. Firefighters worked to suppress the flames while simultaneously searching the building to confirm all residents had safely evacuated.

A second alarm was requested for additional aid due to the size of the fire. It took about 50 minutes to bring the fire under control. The terrain surrounding the building made it difficult to access the back of the structure, which complicated firefighting efforts.

The York Creek Apartments is a 24-unit complex with a firewall dividing it into two sections. The fire was successfully contained to one side of the structure and affected 12 units. Two units sustained direct fire damage while 10 more units suffered water damage.

Despite the building being equipped with a sprinkler system, it did not activate because the fire was primarily confined to the roof area.

Officials believe the fire started because of a lightning strike. Witnesses reported seeing a lightning strike followed by flames on the roof, which prompted multiple 911 calls.

No injuries were reported in the fire. The Alpine Township Fire Department confirmed that 19 residents were displaced from 12 apartment units.

Property management from York Creek Apartments was at the scene quickly to help displaced residents. The American Red Cross also provided support to those affected by the fire.