A large fire has badly damaged an apartment building in Elizabeth, displacing 21 people and causing others to be evacuated.

The fire started around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in a multifamily home on the 200 block of Westfield Avenue. Large flames were seen shooting out of the roof while firefighters attempted to extinguish the fire.

Fire officials say that at one point firefighters had to evacuate the building due to a partial collapse and fight the fire from the outside.

News 12 is told that five families got out safely, and no injuries were reported.

Neighbors tell News 12 New Jersey that the fire started in the back of the home and spread up to the roof, which was destroyed. Firefighters say that the building will have to be demolished.

Firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading to the nearby homes, but two other homes did sustain some damage.

Hotspots were still being put out more than 12 hours later.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.