Dozens of people were left homeless after firefighters spent hours battling a stubborn blaze on Saturday in Justice, Illinois.

The fire started around 11:30 a.m. in a three-story apartment building in the 8500 block of South 88th Terrace.

Roberts Park Fire Protection District Chief Jeffrey Ketchen said the fire started in a third-floor apartment.

As the flames spread, the roof collapsed, and so did the third and second floors

"They've been having a hard time putting this fire out," tenant Keshawn Hollis said.

Crews spent more than seven hours putting out the blaze.

Ketchen said, due to the extensive fire and water damage, the entire building was left uninhabitable.

One tenant said, as firefighters were working to put out the fire, people who live in the building tried to take shelter from the cold inside the apartment building's office, but weren't allowed inside.

"We were told we have to go to the police station for shelter. It's very cold out here. I have a lot of things in my apartment, and I have lost everything," Jaclin Jackson said.

Jackson said they've had a lot of electrical problems in the building, but firefighters said the cause of the fire is still under investigation

No one was injured, but dozens of people were left unable to go back home on a cold night.

Firefighters said the Red Cross was on scene to help the families who lost their homes.