CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) - It took a tremendous amount of effort during Thursday's scorching heat to contain a blaze that consumed an abandoned tire company and displaced several residents in Camden.

The 12-alarm fire that broke out at the old Reliable Tire Company was contained a little before 9 p.m.

Fire crews were called out to the empty factory on Chestnut and Orchard Streets a little before 4 p.m. after heavy smoke was reported coming from the windows.

When firefighters arrived, they were forced to take on a massive fire in addition to the excruciating temperatures. Several firefighters had to be treated for heat exhaustion.

Winds moving 10 mph whipped up the flames and tossed burning embers on to rooftops of neighboring homes, allowing the fire to quickly jump from building to building.

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Firefighters were forced to fall back to safer positions twice.

Dozens of people had no choice but to leave and pray. Some were lucky their homes were spared; others were not.

"My whole family, I have five children in there, and my wife. They all got out okay," said Camden resident Marvin Lewis.

Some lost all they had.

"Everything is gone. I spent my life to get this," Camden resident Elmer Walker said.

The Red Cross is assisting 11 families that were displaced due to the fire.

In the aftermath, it looked like a bomb had dropped near Orchard and Mt. Vernon Streets. Serious weather conditions presented a challenge for firefighters.

"The wind was whipping around," said Bellmawr Fire Chief Rob Mortka.

Firefighters complained of low water pressure, which made fighting the fire more difficult.

"The system is very old. It is taxed, and you look around and everyone is trying to get their water supply to do suppression activity; what happens is you wind up coming off of all the same mains," said Mortka.

Several homes were destroyed. It's not clear exactly how many. Fortunately, there were no reports of any serious injuries.

It's not clear how the fire started, but neighbors tell Eyewitness News the factory has been abandoned for years. Authorities continue to investigate a possible cause.

Reported by Todd Quinones, CBS 3