Newport News Codes and Compliance officials say an alarm designed to alert tenants to fire was set to a silent mode and that's not a violation, as far as the director knows.

Close to 150 people had to be evacuated from Newport Towers on 28th Street Sunday after fire broke out in an eighth floor unit.

Investigators say the fire started around the kitchen stove.

Residents who spotted the black smoke ran door to door, pounding and yelling to alert neighbors.

They say the complex's fire alarms never sounded and, 13News has learned, the back-up strobe light system failed, too.

"The strobe are meant to give a visual alarm in the event that someone is hearing impared or the audible alarm doesn't work," explains Codes and Complaince Director Harold Roach.

Because of the ongoing alarm investigation, most residents couldn't stay in the tower Sunday night.

Managers told 13News Monday that they've never had trouble with the alarm systems not working.

Alarms aren't the only concerns for some residents. 13News Investigates learned of nearly 200 code violations, some of which are being handled through the courts.

According to the city, it has nine pending court cases against the owners of the property. 

Eight of those cases are connected to 8 different apartments, with each unit cited for multiple violations.

The 9th case concerns the elevators.

"We got a lot of handicapped people in this building. They have to be accessible to the elevators especially with 15 floors here,” said resident Anthony McCallum. “What are they going to do, jump out the patio?"

The cases went to court in July, with the judge making a personal visit to the property.

The cases were continued to give the owners more times to correct some of the problems.

"My son's room. I have his bed in front of the window beause if you give it a good shove, it will fall out the side of the building," claims Tawania Walton.

Others talked about mold growing in carpeting; elevators that don't work.

City inspectors say they'll return to the complex to review allegations.

The Red Cross is helping displaced residents.

According to officials, 102 people stayed overnight in hotels; volunteers distributed 110 McDonalds gift cards to families for breakfast and 150 boxed lunches.

According to spokeswoman Michelle McMullen, families in six apartments won't be returning to their homes for now, so the Red Cross is paying for them to stay in a hotel.