DAYTON, Ohio -- Authorities said a fire damaged an apartment building in east Dayton, leaving a couple and their grandson homeless.

Firefighters were called to the scene around 10 a.m. Friday in the 1000 block of Linden Avenue. Officials said only one apartment was occupied at the time, but the owner said he tried to save the building before firefighters arrived.

Officials said as Kermit Slusher walked his wife to the door for work, his 8-year-old grandson began screaming for help.

Fire officials said the fire started in Slusher’s apartment on the first floor and then spread to the walls and upward, smoldering on all three floors. Slusher said flames were shooting from the ceiling of his apartment.

Slusher said he ran and got water in a bucket and tried to put the flames out himself. He said the apartment became too smoky and was forced to leave.

Slusher said he grabbed his grandson’s cat and ran out as firefighters arrived at the scene. The fire chief said Slusher was lucky and said that he discourages people from trying to fight fires themselves, because they have no concept of the real danger.

Chief Grahl said firefighters have protection and air masks that civilians don’t have.

Fire officials said they do not have damage estimate, but they said structural damage is limited. They said they do not believe the fire is arson, but that the fire was not accidental.