KANSAS CITY, Mo. — More than 30 apartment units were damaged and at least 50 residents were displaced following a two-alarm fire at an apartment complex on Friday afternoon.
The fire was first reported around 3:30 pm at the Harvard Court Apartments on Harvard Lane in east Kansas City.
Multiple residents told 41 Action News the fire started on the third floor of one of the apartment buildings and left several people trapped.
"My roommate asked if I was burning anything. I checked my outlet to see if anything might have happened," explained Kailean Irwin. "Next thing I know, when I look down there's smoke coming from my floor. I instantly knew something was wrong and I knew there was a fire."
Update: KCFD responding to fire at Harvard Court Apartments. Waiting to get some updates from officers pic.twitter.com/OipF1mFtze
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 13, 2017
People out walking around as @KCMOFireDept responds to fire at Harvard Court Apts pic.twitter.com/1J1LYj7CwV
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 13, 2017
Irwin, along with dozens of others, was forced to evacuate from her home in a hurry.
Residents described smoke-filled hallways and loud alarms going off during the ordeal.
"It was a gray dark smoke," explained resident Bianca Turbak. "We saw all the flames coming from the door and everything. I just ran down the hall."
41 Action News Skytracker captured tense moments during the emergency response.
Firefighters were spotted rescuing tenants from balconies as the fire burned inside.
"It was terrifying," Irwin explained. "I've never been through anything like this before."
Some residents reported that their homes were destroyed in the fire.
Knowing that the fire was spreading, others said they only had time to grab a few things.
"We lost everything," Turbak explained. "We don't have anything. I go to school online and my laptop is gone."
With the fire still burning and heavy smoke filling rooms and hallways, other residents chose to run inside and help others in need.
Kenny Lawerence Smirl, who lives at the complex with his grandmother, said he ran behind a janitor inside the building while knocking on doors to alert others of the emergency.
"That's when I followed him and ran behind him. He had the fire extinguisher ready," he explained. "I didn't care about anything else but to make sure everyone was alright."
In total, 34 apartment units suffered damage.
As of Friday night, the cause of the fire remained under investigation.
No injuries were reported.
The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City was assisting the 50 tenants displaced by the fire.
