Dangerous winds fueled a destructive apartment fire Wednesday night, leaving a number of people without a home.

Fire investigators now believe improperly discarded cigarettes started the fire that has left 29 people homeless. The investigation is still ongoing.

Fifty-two firefighters were needed to keep the three-alarm fire at the Cheyenne Vista Apartments under control. The complex is located on 340 Crestone Lane near Brookside and 8th Street in Colorado Springs.

The fire ignited around 9:20 p.m. and spread quickly due to strong winds. When firefighters arrived on scene just minutes later, two floors were already engulfed in flames.

"With the wind, it drove it into the building...once it [the fire] found it could get in, the wind just fed it," one firefighter told 11 News. "This is one of our worst nightmares, especially in a building like this made of a lot of wood."

The bulk of the fire was under control shortly before 11 p.m., but firefighters remained on scene throughout the night to search for hot spots and ensure the fire didn't reignite.

The total loss amounted to almost $172,000 in damages.