LOUISVILLE, Ky. --
A two-alarm fire broke out at a Louisville apartment complex early Thursday morning, injuring several residents.
Just before 1:30 a.m., Louisville firefighters were called to the Autumn Run Apartments on Bardstown Road and Goldsmith Lane.
Officials said the fire started in an apartment in the 500 block of Wimbleton Court near Trafalgar Square.
Adults and children were forced to jump from third-floor balconies after a massive fire ripped through their apartment building in Louisville.
At least four children and another woman were taken to hospitals.
"I woke up and heard a noise. I thought it was a gunshot. I saw people screaming and flames coming out of the window," said Regina Flomo.
"I was crying. When I looked outside, I thought myself and my kids would be dead today," said Esther Saylee.
Saylee and her four kids, ages 1, 7, 11 and 14, all had to be taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation after each of them had to make it down a ladder to safety.
"I think I got a reaction from the smoke," Saylee said. "Right now, my whole chest is hurting me and I got a headache and a cough."
"One woman broke both of her wrists and suffered smoke inhalation," said Sgt. Salvador Melendez with the Louisville Fire Department.
Crews gained control of the fire about an hour later.
Investigators are now trying to determine what sparked the blaze.
The two-alarm blaze started on the second floor of the building and sent around 50 firefighters to the scene. Some residents had to be rescued from their beds, fire officials said.
500 Wimbledon Court, Louisville, Ky-85.6721009482237738.209376055490681524939020
"I was actually sleeping," said Amber Robards. "I heard desperation screams, so terrible. The screaming was horrible."
Robards watched as adults and children, desperate to escape the raging fire, jumped to safety.
"They were in so much desperation, they were actually jumping and throwing their babies from the third level from the apartment building on fire," Robards said.
The Red Cross has stepped in. Saylee's family will stay at a motel for a few days as they figure out what's next and how to move on.
"The only thing I got is my life and my children's life," she said. "That's it."
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