Cigarette May Have Sparked South Tulsa Apartment Fire

Investigators are still looking into what sparked a fire at an apartment complex early Monday morning, but a cigarette may be to blame.

Firefighters say it started in an upstairs unit at the Timberline Apartments near east 79th and Sheridan around 2:30 Monday morning.

01/16/2012 Related Story: Strong Winds Fan Flames During South Tulsa Apartment Complex Fire

Sunday night's very warm and windy conditions only fueled the fire that destroyed at least eight units and displaced 10 residents.

"I came out and saw the building just caught on fire. In ten minutes it was basically gone," said Nick Zagorodniy, Timberline resident.

Thick heavy smoke filled the air as the apartment complex burned. Investigators say the fire started in a second floor unit.

High winds fanned the flames, but that wasn't the only challenge firefighters faced.

They tried fighting the fire from the inside but the intense heat melted a hose in half, causing them to lose water pressure.

They were forced to pull out of the building and fight from outside.

"The wind really propelled the fire and tried to spread it. But the crews were able to do a successful knock down from the exterior and bring it under control," said Jeremy Moore, Tulsa Fire Admin. Chief.

Fred and Diane Hail say they could only watch as their neighbors homes became ash.

"It's devastating and in that time of morning too. It's got to be devastating, to lose all your stuff like that," Fred Hail said.

No one was injured. And the American Red Cross was on hand to help the displaced families.

"It's an easing process where they can let go of what they are feeling at having been so devastated," said Gordon Cole, American Red Cross Disaster Reaction Team.

The Red Cross assisted seven families displaced by the fire.