HOUSTON – Several people were forced to jump from a burning apartment building Monday in north Houston, officials said.
The fire broke out just before 3:30 a.m. at the Sago Palms Apartments in the 13500 block of Northborough Drive.
One man said he broke the windows of his apartment to escape the flames. He was treated for cuts to his hands, investigators said.
“I’m glad I got a chance to save lives and save my own life at the end of the day,” resident Jacoby Ross said.
Ross said he busted out his window to escape the fire and then alerted others.
“I was trying to knock on they window, but weren't nobody coming, so I broke it, so I make sure they get out,” Ross said.
Another man said a neighbor had to catch him after he jumped from the second floor.
WATCH: Man jumps from burning building, loses everything in Northborough apartment fire
“That’s when my neighbor stood on top of the air conditioner and helped me down. Five minutes later, boom, just went up in smoke,” resident Douglas Roberson said.
Denesha Bagent, who lived in an apartment with her sister, said they were out with other family members when the fire started.
She said her dog, Gucci, that she got to keep her company when she moved in, died in the fire. Firefighters rescued her niece’s dog, whom she was sitting, Bagent said.
WATCH: Survivor Danesha Bagent's dog killed in north Houston apartment fire
Bagent said she lost her father two months ago.
“Me, losing my dad and I’m losing my house, it’s a lot to try to take care of,” Bagent said. “The irreplaceable stuff I just have to let it go, cause you can’t hold on to negativity, you can’t move forward with negativity. I just have to stay strong.”
Fire officials said 16 homes were destroyed in the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.