KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
Several people are out of their homes Tuesday morning after an apartment fire.
Residents say the fire started in the sixth unit on a second-floor apartment just before 2 a.m.
When fire crews arrived, flames were shooting out of the roof of the structure at 40th Terrace and Clark Ave.
The cause of the fire hasn't been officially released, but residents say it was accidental and could have been an electrical issue.
Residents say they were sleeping when they heard people screaming. Some people grabbed their fire extinguishers to put out the fire, but by that point it was out of control.
Firefighters had the fire out about an hour later.
Twelve people and eight cats managed to escape safely. The eight-unit building sustained smoke, fire and water damage.
The Red Cross is helping the 12 displaced residents find places to stay for the night and get access to medications they had to leave behind in order to escape the fire.
Smoke detectors in the unit where the fire originated were not working, authorities said.
Public safety officials recommend as people work to adjust all the clocks in the home during daylight saving time, check the smoke detectors too.
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