PLANTATION (CBSMiami) – No injuries were reported after a Plantation apartment went up in flames.

The fire broke out around after 8:30 a.m. in a third floor apartment at the Lake Park Apartments complex at 4750 NW 10th Court.

According to investigators, the occupant of apartment 316 admitted to smoking earlier, the location where the fire appeared to originate. Plantation Fire Chief Joe Harris said there was a delay in calling 9-1-1 because the person who lived in the unit tried to put the fire out himself.

The 25 or so families who live in the building were evacuated as firefighters battled the smoky fire.

Since the building was not equipped with a sprinkler system, firefighters had to hoist hoses to the third floor in order to attack the fire.

Harris said the common roof space between the first two apartments allowed the fire to spread between them, but firefighters were able to hold the fire in check. It took about 50 firefighters three hours to completely extinguish it. They had it out in about 30 to 45 minutes.

Fire damage was limited to the two end units with water damage in seven other units.

The Red Cross was called to assist with nine families.