A fire broke out inside an apartment building in White Plains early Friday morning, destroying at least one apartment and leaving tenants homeless.

Fire officials say the blaze broke out on the roof of a building at 20 North Broadway just before 12:30 a.m. That is when witnesses say they heard popping noises, followed by a small explosion.

Within minutes, flames and smoke began bursting out from windows. Firefighters who arrived at the scene evacuated people from some 40 co-op apartments. No one was hurt in the fire.

"We heard everyone yelling, and we just ran out," says tenant Erin Dwyer.

Some firefighters set up a tower ladder and an aerial platform to fight the flames from the outside, while others worked on the roof to keep the flames from spreading to the rest of the building. Still more firefighters were inside the building, trying to save the apartments located below the source of the fire.

One apartment was gutted by the blaze, and at least five more were damaged by smoke and water. Shortly before the fire broke out, residents say roofers had been working in the building.

Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Daniel Jackson says investigators will be looking into the possibility the fire is connected to the roofing work.

"There definitely was some roof work being done on this building last week,? Jackson says.

The Red Cross is currently providing assistance to people forced out of their apartments by the fire.