HOUSTON -- Firefighters rescued senior citizens from a four-alarm fire Monday at the southwest Houston mid-rise building where they lived.

---

Slideshow: View Images Of High-Rise Fire

---

The blaze broke out at a Houston Housing Authority residential facility for senior citizens in the 7200 block of Bellerive Drive near the Southwest Freeway shortly before 10 a.m.

Flames shot out of a fifth-story window of the eight-floor building.

Officials said some residents were rescued on ladder trucks. The development has 210 units for seniors on fixed incomes.

"We're going from floor to floor. We've got a list from the management of the occupancy level. And for those who need special assistance, we're working the hallways to get those people that do have mobility out of the building and to safety," assistant executive chief Rick Flanagan said.

Many of the residents said they went outside with only the clothes on their backs. Some were clad in pajamas and were not wearing shoes.

"All my clothes are in there," resident Doris Kemp said.

"There was big, big smoke -- big smoke. I couldn't get out. The fire department's taken me out because I can't see nothing," resident Alejandro Mastache said.

"Somebody came (and said), 'Get out. Get out,'" another resident said.

The main priority for firefighters was getting everyone to safety.

"The bull's eye we look for in any situation like this is removing the life safety factor out of harm's way," said Executive Assistant Chief Rick Flanagan with the Houston Fire Department.

Five people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities. The injuries range from smoke inhalation to a sprained ankle.

The fire was extinguished by 11 a.m.

"They did a tremendous job controlling this fire, getting people out. And at this point, so far, there has not been any reports of any fatals. That's the good thing. But there's a lot of work left to be done," Flanagan said.

"(Firefighters) have been through all eight floors and did not find anyone," said Terrence Fontaine of the mayor's office.

The residents were placed on METRO buses for shelter.

"We're making plans on accommodating them this evening and for the near future in accommodations that we own -- other apartments that we own. Or we'll make arrangements in other units," said Steve Mikelman with the Houston Housing Authority. "I imagine most of the units are filled with single individuals. Most are ambulatory. Some are in wheelchairs. This (facility) is for people who can care for themselves."

Mikelman said the residents have been trained for emergencies.

"A number of times a year, we do run fire drills. And my understanding is that our risk and safety coordinator was out here not all that long ago to train residents on fire evacuation procedures," he said.

Many residents are now wondering when they will be able to go home.

"There's a good possibility that a portion of the building will be able to be reopened fairly quickly and reoccupied. We don't know that for sure quite yet," Mikelman said.

An evacuation center was set up at the Chinese Community Center located at 9800 Town Park Drive. Some residents were taken to a Hilton hotel on the Southwest Freeway for temporary shelter.

Officials said people should contact the Houston Housing Authority at 713-260-0500 if they are searching for information on any residents.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The building dates back to the 1970s and is in accordance with mid-rise fire ordinances, officials said, even though it did not have any sprinklers. The building was last inspected in January.