Authorities say the fire first started in the back of an apartment complex, then spread up large palm trees before threatening a number of apartment buildings in the area.
Fresno Fire says with the help of additional crews, the flames were put out within 15 minutes. However, the intense blaze left a number of businesses in the area with significant damage.
"We did have a number of cars that were damaged in other car lots on the backside," Batt. Chief Daniel Perkins said. "It caused a lot of smoke to be produced from the fire itself that was also controlled in 15 minutes."
No one was injured.
Firefighters say the heat of the fire cracked windows which is why multiple families have been displaced. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.