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3-Alarm Fire At Apartment Complex Across From Cal Expo Damages 16 Units

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — About a dozen people have been displaced after a three-alarm fire damaged several units of a Sacramento apartment complex early Tuesday morning.

Flames ripped through two buildings at the Palms apartment complex overnight in the 1400 block of Exposition Boulevard.

According to the Sacramento Fire Department, firefighters responded around 1 a.m. and found several units on fire.

Firefighters were able to contain the flames to two buildings at the complex, but at least 16 units were damaged.

"I did panic. This is nothing you ever plan to be in," said Jessica Rodriguez.

Rodriguez called 911 when she heard embers against her window then barely escaped with her boyfriend and her dog.

"My smoke alarm wasn't going off. It wasn't until I opened my patio door I saw flames and heard the alarm and then I was like 'oh crap there is a fire,'" said Vicki Oh.

Oh ran out with her family the worked to help eight families who made it out.

"We grabbed waters and blankets and helped them," she said.

They stood and watched as their apartments burned.

"Honestly, it felt like a movie scene it was quick and spread so fast," she said.

Firefighters say it took a couple of hours to put out the fire.

"It was a dogfight for them," said Battalion Chief Rusty Van Buren. "The buildings are pretty close and just the sheer volume of fire emanating from initial units was just a massive amount."

No human injuries were reported in the fire, but one cat was lost. The Red Cross is now helping the people who were displaced by the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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