Residents evacuated after apartment fire in Bristol

BRISTOL, Ind. -- People living in one Bristol apartment building had to be evacuated out into the bitter cold after an apartment fire early Thursday morning.

The fire started just after 3:30 a.m. in the ceiling of an upstairs apartment at the Golfview Manor Apartments on the 1300 block of West Vistula Street in Bristol. Firefighters believe there are 10 people displaced. 

Officials say they put the fire out in about 20 minutes, but the flames left extensive damage and they had to shut power off in the middle section of thet building. 

Firefighters say the displaced people will be out of their homes for at least 24 to 48 hours. The Red Cross assisted victims. The Elkhart County Humane Society also helped with pets in the building. 

People needing additional assistance are asked to go to the Bristol Fire Station or contact the Red Cross. 

A cause has not been determined. The case is now in the hands of the state fire marshal. 

No injuries have been reported.

Tim Barrett lives at the end of the building. He says he and his girlfriend were sleeping when they heard a beating on the door and firefighters telling them to get out. 

“It sucks," said Barrett.  "We’ll probably just go stay at my brothers tonight. Some of these people it’s going to hurt pretty bad. One lady didn’t even have a car to sit in. She had two little kids. They let her sit in the ambulance.”