NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A two-alarm fire destroyed 13 units in an apartment building near the Belmont area of Nashville on Monday.

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The fire started in the Howard Building on 16th Avenue South near Wedgewood Avenue and Belmont University's campus.

Residents said the fire started on the bottom floor when someone knocked over some burning incense and set a chair on fire.

"It’s an old building and a lot of it’s wood, and old paint, and it just ignited and went straight up the stairwell. I live on the top floor, and it just went up in flames in a matter of minutes," said resident Josh Sinclair.

Dozens of firefighters were called to the scene to battle the flames. The extreme heat and humidity combined with the intensity of the fire made the fire a dangerous situation, so firefighters worked in shifts.

"The turnout gear that they wear alone weighs 50 pounds. It's hot. It keeps fire out, but it also keeps their body heat in," said Nashville Fire Department representative Kim Lawson.

Six units were badly damaged by the fire and seven other units were affected by smoke damage.

Residents said they lost most of everything that they owned.

"A lot of stuff in there. I'm a musician. I'm a drummer. I lost a lot of musical instruments, my clothes. I don't have anything," Sinclair said.

Fire investigators remained at the building to ensure that the fire was extinguished.

Volunteers with the Red Cross were also dispatched to the scene to assist residents.

The Howard Building is a historic building in which recording artists and writers stayed when they came to Nashville in the 1940s, '50s and '60s. The building is more than 85 years old.

"There are stories of the old country musicians and songwriters back in the '30s, '40s and '50s. It's a great building, sad to see all the damage to it," Sinclair said.

The building’s owners said they are not sure what they plan to do at this time. They said they will have to get approval from the Historical Commission before they can knock the building down.