MONTICELLO — Nine people are without their homes following an apartment fire in Monticello on Friday, Oct. 30.

According to Monticello Fire-Rescue chief Jason Eyler, an emergency call came into dispatch about smoke in an apartment at 327 S. Garfield Street. At the time of the call, there were reportedly no flames showing.

“Upon arrival, fire units encountered heavy fire conditions in an upstairs apartment unit extending to the exterior of the building,” Eyler said in a press release. “Fire units began a transitional fire attack while also executing search and rescue operations to all other units of the eight-unit apartment building.”

A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to provide additional resources from several area fire departments.

All nine residents were accounted for with no injuries reported. However, two put cats died in the fire.

Eyler said the fire was brought under control in about 45 minutes, and that responding units stated on scene for about three hours with overhaul and investigative operations.

“One apartment received heavy fire damage. An additional unit received heavy water damage,” Eyler said. “The other six units received minor smoke damage.”

Officials declared all units uninhabitable when the fire scene was finally cleared. The Red Cross was called to aid the nine displaced residents.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Assisting Monticello Fire-Rescue were the Monticello Police Department, Green County Sheriff’s Department, Sugar River EMS and Monticello Public Works.