A fire struck a Brooklyn Park apartment complex early Friday, sending flames and smoke shooting out from the top floor of the three-floor building and forcing many families from their units. No injuries were reported.

The blaze at the Moonraker Apartments on Brookdale Drive east of Zane Avenue started on a third-floor balcony about 2:30 a.m. and damaged several units, Deputy Fire Chief Todd Seitz said.

Crews remained on the scene as daybreak came, tending to hot spots, then left about 8:30 a.m., Seitz added.

Six units were damaged by fire, smoke and water, Seitz said. Building management was relocating those residents to other units on the property, he said.

While no cause has been determined for the fire, Seitz said it does not appear to be suspicious.

Paul Walsh