An early morning fire at a seniors complex in New Waterford, Nova Scotia left residents scrambling to find the exits.

More than two-dozen tenants were forced out of their home around 2 a.m. after a fire started in an upstairs apartment.

“The damage was quite extensive,” says Fire Chief Lenny Barrington. “The apartment was pretty well full engulfed. Lots of charring, lots of heat.”

Kenny MacLeod has lived in the complex for 22 years and when he heard the alarm sounding, he immediately went knocking on doors to alert his friends and neighbours.

“Just get everyone out,” says MacLeod. “Get them to the exit. Grab your coat, grab your purse and away you go. A lot of them were in nightgowns.”

No one was injured in the fire, but the damage forced 27 seniors living in the complex to spend the rest of the night at a nearby fire hall.

Joan McKeough, the Cape Breton Highland Housing Authority Director says registrations were completed very quickly.

“Some folks went with their families,” says McKeough, “some remained here who didn’t have someone to go with or didn’t want to call that hour of the morning.”

Residents will spend at least the next couple of days in a hotel, and will be allowed to return home once the building has been ventilated and cleared of smoke and water damage.

The fire is not believed to be suspicious.