UPDATED Sunday, July 6 --- 11:10am

FITCHBURG, Wis. (AP) _ Madison-area firefighters think they know what started a major apartment fire that caused an estimated $3.3 million in damages.

Fitchburg authorities believe someone put a hot charcoal grill in an outdoor storage shed on a second-floor balcony.

Residents arriving home from fireworks shows on Friday said they heard an explosion about midnight. They reported seeing flames coming from the balcony.

Fifty-two-year-old resident Darrell Reynolds says people ran through the building banging on doors and saying the fire was no false alarm. The visually impaired man says he grabbed his shoes and got out.

An American Red Cross spokesman says about 40 people have been affected, most of whom lack renter's insurance.

The apartment building has 26 units.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

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Posted Saturday, July 5th -- 5:00pm

"We've got 2 cats in there!" screams Patricia Baggs as she watches her apartment complex go up in flames. "I don't know if they said they had a good chance of making it but I don't think so!"

It was an emotional night for her waited to see if fire crews could rescue her animals before it was too late.

"It went up so fast! I couldn't believe it! How fast it went! And looks it's still burning after 2 hours!"

Baggs lives next door to the apartment where the fire started. She was watching TV when she heard the fire alarm, grabbed her grandson and ran outside.

"I ran and started knocking on their doors and after they opened it I pulled the alarm and I started yelling for everybody to get out," says one brave young boy. His neighbors call him a lifesaver, but he goes by the name of Dejai Wilson and he still can't believe he was apart of the rescue efforts.

"I'm shocked really. This is like the crazies thing that's happened over here. I know it's going to affect a lot of people's lives."

"We pulled up there was a lot of heavy smoke and we had EMS working with people for smoke inhalation," says Lieutenant Bob Rittenhouse.

Luckily none of those people suffered any major injuries and everyone made it out alive. Firefighters were able to save the 2 cats and the many other tenant's animals from inside.

"He's all wet and he smells like smoke but I don't care," says Baggs.

Investigators have determined the cause of the fire to be accidental and involve the improper handling of a charcoal grill.

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Updated at 10:55am
Posted Saturday, July 5th --7:00am

Around 40 people are displaced after a fire damaged an apartment building in Fitchburg.

It happened Friday night around 11:30 on Leopold Way. At least five agencies responded to the fire.

Officials do not have a damage estimate but say the 26-unit building sustained major damage.

A neighbor saw flames from across the street and ran in to pull the alarm.

The exact cause remains under investigation

The owners of the apartment are making arrangements to have the affected residents stay at the Candlewood Suites for the next few days.

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Press Release from the Red Cross Badger Chapter:

The local American Red Cross Badger Chapter has been mobilized to assist the tenants of today’s early morning fire at Fitchburg Springs apartment complex, 3321 Leopold Way. The 26 - unit apartment building sustained major damage, and the owners have made arrangements for those affected to stay 2 days at the Candlewood Suites and Quality Inn.

The Badger Chapter of the American Red Cross will be opening a service center on Saturday, 05 July, at Aldo Leopold Elementary School, 2602 Post Road, between the hours of 1-6pm. Family and individual needs will be assessed and vouchers will be provided to cover lodging, food, clothing, transportation, supplies, and counseling, as needed.

The Red Cross has been in contact with approximately 40 residents of the apartment complex. It is not known at this time how many will require Red Cross assistance.

If a shelter is needed, it will be opened at Aldo Leopold Elementary School, 2602 Post Road. The Badger Chapter of the American Red Cross and the apartment tenants thank the Madison Metropolitan School District for making this facility available.

As with all disasters, Red Cross workers will follow up with the individuals and provide additional emergency assistance as needed. Residents that were affected by the fire who may need assistance and have not yet contacted the local Red Cross should call (608) 233-9300.

In situations like this, the local Red Cross can be called upon to provide disaster victims with immediate emergency aid including shelter, meals, clothing, and counseling services, based on their individual needs.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free. American Red Cross resources are in very short supply following the recent flood relief efforts. Please consider supporting the American Red Cross in any way you are able.

The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on financial contributions to provide direct relief and to maintain a trained corps of local volunteer responders. To help support Red Cross relief efforts for this and other local disasters, financial contributions can be made to the local American Red Cross Badger Chapter, 4860 Sheboygan Avenue, Madison, WI 53705. Alternatively, you may call (608) 233 9300, or visit the website at www.arcbadger.org.