A sudden apartment complex fire has claimed three innocent lives.

A fire that started at the Captiva Club Apartments in Town ‘N’ Country around 3:30 this morning has taken the lives of at least three people – a mother and her two children ages five and 10.

Sheriff Chad Chronister said an adult who was living with the victims made contact with the mother outside when they both got out of the apartment safely after the flames ensued. However, when the mother noticed her children were not with her, she went back inside. Unfortunately, none of them made it back out.

Chronister said, “For a mother’s love to go back in and know that her children may be inside – not knowing that they were inside – but they may be inside… she lost her life because of it. Is there any greater actions of love than the one displayed by this mother today?”

Earlier this morning, Chronister spoke with officials from the Red Cross, firefighters, and residents of the building to gather information and offer his support. Red Cross spent time this morning speaking with residents about the various resources available to them.

A resident gave local news crews drone footage of fire shooting from the roof of the apartment complex. The complex is now considered a total loss as eight apartments have been damaged by either fire or water. It took firefighters about 45 minutes to get everything under control.

Cheryl Setley, a resident who lives in the building behind the one that went up in flames, describes the moments when she was escorted out of the building: “I could feel the heat of the flames even over there. I mean, you could feel it. It was the weirdest thing. Too close for comfort.”

In the last four years, there have been three fires at Captiva Club. Residents are saying they want the managers of the complex to take some accountability for the fatal disaster.

The managers still do not know what caused the fire, but a press conference was scheduled for this morning with the Sheriff’s Department so more information could be brought forth.