AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - In a matter of minutes, families' lives turned upside down.

Now all that's left is yellow caution tape, missing roofs, lots of black residue.

Families were not expecting to spend their Fourth of July weekend like this after a fire late Wednesday devastated 16 units at the Nine Two Six West apartment complex in the 900 block of Stevens Creek Road.

At first, Ron Mantey says he couldn't believe his eyes.

With the flames came screams, then it all clicked.

"The actual flames started reaching the building the top of the building," Mantey said.

The very place he's called home for 16 years really was on fire, and it didn't take long to spread

"What is what, was it fireworks, was it careless a grease fire inside? I don't know what it is. We haven't been told, just that it happened," Mantey said.

The smoke may be gone, but he says the feelings of shock and disbelief are just settling in.

"I think it's a very tragic event. A lot of people lost everything they owned in this building, it was sixteen families in that building and they lost everything," Mantey said.

From local schoolteachers to military men.

He says the CSRA community continues providing relief for the families left with nothing but memories.

"But the people round here starting to join I'll put it that way to help them get through this tragedy and actually I'm very pleased by it," said Mantey.

And at the end of the day, he says homes may be empty, but their hearts are full.

"It's dog eat dog around here, but these people have joined together to help these people, which is a really 'God bless' thing," said Mantey.

He says along with the community, the Red Cross has shown up for families by donating and providing them a place to stay, and more.