Mishawaka residents are beginning to sort through the rubble, after a late night fire at Indian Lakes Apartments. The fire started around 8:30 Sunday night after an apparent lightning strike.

It's been a rough 20 hours or so hours for some residents here at Indian Lakes Apartments. The good news is everyone made it out okay, but the fire destroyed at least a dozen apartments and damaged several more.

Fire investigators are wrapping up their work, taking a closer look at the building and aftermath. Depending on the damage, some tenants have been allowed back in their apartments to retrieve their belongings. Several apartments suffered smoke damage, while others have water damage from the firefighters’ efforts.

The American Red Cross is helping residents with some of their immediate needs. “It was worse than I thought it would be, the water actually came through the floor and blasted out paint. It was a pretty good splattering of everything," says Eric Bishop, whose apartment was destroyed.

"Whenever they let us in, we'll see if there's anything we can save, but looking from back, it seems pretty bleak outlook there," adds Covington Doan, another fire victim.

"I just hope everybody comes through it OK, and they have enough apartments to get everybody home,” says Bob Gill, whose sister’s apartment was destroyed.

After taking a close look at this building, firefighters say a firewall helped stop the flames from spreading to other apartments. Some residents tell Newscenter 16 that they don’t have renter’s insurance.

Luckily, Mishawaka's Douglas Road Fire Station is just across the street, so firefighters were able to respond within just a couple of minutes.