samuel assmani captured these flames shooting from the roof on his cell phone. you can hear his concern for those who may have been trapped. his son jeffrey ran to find out. >> god, who is inside there? >> rushing everywhere trying to knock on everybody's door trying to get them outside and you see babies crying, little girls looking for their moms. >> reporter: when he noticed he couldn't find his cousin emanuel. >> i felt him shaking me. i just picked him up, got him outside. if i had never done that, he would have been gone by now probably. >> he saved my high of. >> reporter: prince william county pulled -- my life. >> reporter: prince william county pulled nearly 70 firefighters from of department to help in last night's fire that destroyed 24 units and two buildings. several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion as crews battled the blaze in 100- degree temperatures. the fire marshal's office says a gas fueled cooking appliance such as a gas grill caused the fire. >> which emphasizes the reason why you do not have propane grills on apartment decks.