Families evacuated as fire breaks out in Greenfield Park apartment building

LONGUEUIL – Firefighters battled a blaze that erupted in a six-storey apartment building in Greenfield Park Monday morning.

It broke out around 2:30 a.m. on Victoria Avenue, between Regent Street and James-E.-Davis Street.

It took nearly 100 firefighters about three hours to contain the fire, which started on an upper-floor balcony at the back of the building and quickly spread to the roof.

Resident Maude Litalien told Global News she didn’t hear the fire alarm go off.

“Somebody knocking on the door, ‘fire, fire. Everybody get out,'” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Somebody knocking on the door, 'fire, fire. Everybody get out,'" she said.

Firefighters turned on the alarm when they arrived at the scene.

All 46 occupants were safely evacuated, including 11 children, and the Red Cross is placing families in hotels for the next few days.

WATCH: Firefighters battle a blaze in Greenfield Park.

0:40 RAW: Greenfield park fire

The structure houses about 30 units.

The Longueuil fire department assessed the property damage at over $800,000 and said it could take weeks before people can return home.

The blaze was caused by electrical problems.