A terrifying situation for several people inside a gun range in Austintown Friday night.

Derek Rubicky tells 21 News that a woman was firing her gun inside The Training Range on Mahoning Avenue, when sparks from a discharge ignited some gun powder or residue on the floor and the place immediately went up in flames. 

It happened around 5:45. Fire crews from Austintown, Youngstown, Canfield and Weathersfield were called in. Austintown Fire Chief Andy Frost says it was a real challenge to fight the fire because of all the layers of the building and insulation with it being a gun range. He says they had to rip off the roof and tear down walls to actually get to the fire. 

Rubicky says he was ten yards away from where the fire started. "It went up like it was old time, like flash powder," he said.

Thick black smoke filled the room within seconds.

"I was heading toward the door when it hit me, I lost all orientation as to where I was even on the ground and I had to feel my way out," said Rubicky. 

When asked how scary the situation was, Rubicky said, "I started seeing scenes of my life going by. Fortunately someone opened the outside of the door and I could see the glow, it was still light outside. I just made the best I could to get outside," said Rubicky.

Chief Frost says the gun range has heavy damage, but no one was injured.