Evacuees describe damage at Gilbert 5-alarm fire

A Gilbert apartment construction site was reduced to embers after fire tore through the area Saturday night near Gilbert and Warner. At least sixty homes had to be evacuated.

One witness tells us that flames and heat from the massive fire damaged homes in the area, even causing windows to shatter and blinds to melt.

Gilbert Fire spokesperson Mike Connor says more than 70 people were evacuated from the Republic Apartments near the fire. Many people were being allowed back into their homes on Sunday morning, while people from the Republic waited for apartment managers to secure all the doors to the complex.

The Red Cross says they helped eleven evacuees with places to stay at a nearby hotel.

Streets remain shut down on Sunday as fire crews investigate how the flames broke out and keep an eye out for an possible hot spots.