Eighteen Ames residents, including several Iowa State students, are now homeless, courtesy of an apartment building fire at 705 Clark Ave. early Wednesday morning.

One firefighter was injured slightly attempting to extinguish the blaze. There were no other injuries reported.

Fire Chief Mike Childs estimated that the three-floor building sustained about $750,000 worth of damage.

A fire alarm in one of the building’s apartments went off at 1:30 a.m. Firefighters arrived shortly after and had few problems evacuating the building, said Clare Bills, city public relations officer. The fire started from “discarded smoking materials or, in other words, [a] cigarette in the waste can,” Bills said.

Firefighters had the fire out at about 2:30 a.m., when residents were allowed back into the building. But the trouble wasn’t over.

“Sometimes the heat of the first fire starts smoldering inside the structure, between the walls and under the floors,” Bills said. The fire flared back up again at about 7:30 a.m.

Firefighters launched their second attack against the fire inside the building. But by mid-morning the building was structurally unsafe.

“We had to abandon the interior and go to a defensive exterior approach,” said Phil Harris, acting assistant chief for the Ames Fire Department.

More than 35 firefighters spent all morning combating the fire, which was extinguished for good at about 2:15 p.m.

Firefighter Dean Miller was treated for back injuries and released from Mary Greeley Medical Center early Wednesday morning.

The apartment building is a converted house in the historic district of Ames. It had been renovated into 11 apartments, owned by Harold and Jo Newell. The couple also lives in the building.

“It’s terrible. [The owner is] in his office. He can’t watch,” said Nancy Ezarshr, who lives in the neighborhood.

The Newell’s spent the last two years renovating the building, which was probably built around 1915. “I don’t know that it can be saved. We’ll have to see,” said Sharon Wirth, an Ames City Council member who was at the scene.

Red Cross volunteers are helping find housing and other necessities for residents. “Most of them have got just the clothes on their back,” said Doris Guy, Red Cross disaster volunteer. “We’re helping their needs on an individual basis.”

Century 21 has set up a bank account for anyone wishing to donate funds for those who lost their homes and possessions. Donations can be sent to First National Bank, 5th and Burnett, in care of the “705 Clark Fire Victims.”

Gifts and personal items for the fire victims should be taken to First Christian Church at 611 Clark between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.