At least 13 people are temporarily homeless after a fire destroyed a Fredericton home and caused significant damage to a second house.

Platoon Captain Jeff Mills tells Capital FM, a Fredericton-based Bell Media radio station, that crews were called to a structure fire on Charlotte Street around 1 a.m. Sunday.

Mills says the three-storey home was fully involved when crews arrived.

"The flames were probably 30 or 40 feet in the air when we arrived on scene," Mills says.

He says the flames, fanned by high winds, spread to a neighbouring three-storey home on York Street.

Mills says the Charlotte Street home was destroyed, and the York Street residence sustained significant smoke, fire and water damage.

Three vehicles were also destroyed in the fire.

"(Both homes) were converted into apartments," said Mills. "I really can't tell you how many were displaced at this time."

The Canadian Red Cross says it provided emergency lodging and other assistance to nine people who were living in the Charlotte Street home.

Three of the tenants were checked at the hospital for minor smoke inhalation and later released.

"Luckily everyone got out, but then you start thinking about your possessions and whether anything is going to be salvable,” said tenant Luc Melanfant. “I remember speaking to a policeman who said that the whole building was most likely going to be torn down."

Occupants of the York Street home made their own arrangements for a temporary place to stay.

According to charity Big Hearts Small City, 12 of the 13 displaced tenants didn’t have insurance.

"Myself and my roommate and the other tenants, we basically only have the clothes on our back," said Melanfant.

Mills says embers were blowing upwards of a block away, creating additional concerns for firefighters.

"We had people scouting the area for any spot fires on rooftops, as well," Mills says. "It was challenging."

Mills says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown.