A fire at a multifamily home displaced 25 people in Bridgeport, officials say.

The fire happened Wednesday morning at 1387 Pembroke St. The Red Cross says 25 people are displaced.

Milton Mitchell, 27, says he was inside his second-floor apartment around 11 a.m. when he smelled smoke and heard his neighbors began shouting. Moments later, the fire forced everyone out of the building, with flames shooting out of the back of the house.

Mitchell says he went banging on his neighbor's door in a desperate bid to wake her up and get her safely outside.

"All my emotions and feelings were running at the same time because I knew she was in bed asleep," says Mitchell.

Luckily, everyone safely got out of the building.

Families affected by the fire say the Red Cross only pays for two nights at a motel, and then many of them are left with no place to stay. City officials spent Thursday morning meeting with families and helping coordinate housing beyond the two days of motel coverage provided.

Those who were able to stay in their homes say the smoke damage is so severe that it's hard to breathe, especially for residents with asthma.

People who live inside the home are asking for the public's help, and say they are grateful that nobody was seriously hurt or killed in the fire.

The fire marshal has cited an electrical issue as the cause of the fire.