It happened at the Eagle's Crest Apartments on Jack Miller Boulevard, near Outlaw Field and Cole Park Golf Course.

The fire marshal said the building was fully-involved when crews got on the scene around 4:30 p.m. Monday. The buildings adjacent to building F were also evacuated just in case the fire spread. 

A good samaritan alerted residents of the fast moving fire.

"I heard someone pounding on my door, then on other doors, then they ran upstairs and pounded on those doors," explained fire victim Lauren Merriam.

When the Army wife found out about the fire, she had just enough time to grab her kitten and dog and run out the door.

"So I had to get them taken care of, and I got my phone and my keys. I didn't even have shoes. A friend from another building came and brought me a pair of shoes," Merriam said.

The building is a 3-story building with six sections, and was built in 1974. The building was destroyed, and the roof is gone. 24 of the 34 units in this building were occupied.

About 90 percent of the folks who live there are military.

"It moved really quickly and it made its way down," fire victim Lizeth Wakasa explained.

Her husband was in the shower when the fire started and credited another good samaritan of alerting him to the danger.

"I just heard somebody screaming and I got out," David Wakasa said.

He and his wife just returned from a tour of duty in the Middle East.

"We've been home for three weeks. You always say to yourself, not me. I guess this time it was me," Lizeth Wakasa said.

Investigators said two factors played a role in this fire going to three alarms.

"We did have a bit of wind this afternoon. These apartments were built in 1974. In 1974 you didn't have the requirement of fire stops. That's another reason, right there," according to Clarksville Fire Marshal Ray Williams.

Firefighters were on the scene for hours, well into the night, dealing with hot spot and the smokey, charred ruins of building F.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Red Cross was on the scene and set up a shelter for the displaced residents. It will be at the North Central Institute which is located at 168 Jack Miller Blvd. To call for assistance, the number is 931-645-6401.

Investigators said the fire was so intense that they may never now what started it.

Clarksville's fire marshal said this is the biggest fire the city's seen in six years. Back then, a fire destroyed 20 apartments at a complex on the other side of town.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/14293435/at-least-24-families-displaced-in-3-alarm-apartment-fire