10 escape a fire in an apartment building in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - A fire damaged an apartment building Tuesday morning.

The 911 call came in around 2:30 a.m. to the 1500 block of North Jefferson near Cox North Hospital.

The fire department reports ten people living in the four-unit complex escaped. The fire damaged the attic and second floor. There is also water and smoke damage throughout the building.

“You’re taught, like from childhood, all the proper steps and everything. It’s just that doing those in the moment was a little hard,” said one of the survivors, Trey Gilbert. “Just trying to get out the door was my main concern. And afterward, after being outside, it kind of skyrocketed from there, just the anxiety of the future, knowing animals are still in the house. Luckily everybody got outside fairly quickly. But other than that, it’s just anxiety for the future.”

The Red Cross was also on scene handing out bags of toiletry essentials and information on the next steps following the destruction of their homes.

The fire department believes the fire started in the top levels of the house, adding that while most of the fire damage was contained there, the rest was battered by water and smoke damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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