Fire damage is visible around the upper-floor windows of the 423 Apartments in downtown Marysville on Sept. 11, the morning after a fire heavily damaged part of the D Street building.

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Thursday, Sept. 10, at around 2:30 p.m., a fire broke out in downtown Marysville in the upper apartment complex at 423 D St. The historic mixed-use building was quickly engulfed in flames, with damage heavily concentrated on the upper-right-side units facing D Street.

The following morning, Friday, Sept. 11, residents could be seen along the sidewalk as firefighters allowed them back inside portions of the building to try to salvage their belongings.

“They called me into the office and asked about my mom’s address,” said Michelle Lockhart, a student at Lindhurst High School. “I was really confused, and then they told me what was happening and I just started bawling.”

A Marysville Fire Department engine remains parked outside the 423 Apartments on D Street in downtown Marysville on Sept. 11, one day after a fire displaced residents from the building.

Lockhart, who also serves as secretary for her local FFA chapter, said the sudden loss of their home has been disruptive for both her and her mother, Jennifer Lockhart, who works full time. Still, the two said they are trying to look on the bright side and are grateful everyone made it out safely. Because their apartment was located on a lower level, some of their belongings were spared from the flames and could still be recovered.

“I wish we had got renters insurance, but I’m just happy everyone is OK,” Jennifer Lockhart said.

No residents were injured in the fire, according to Marysville police and residents at the scene. However, a few residents reported that a cat belonging to one of the tenants was found deceased.

Brad Palm, who serves as the apartment manager and also lived in the building, was home when the fire broke out. Palm recalled hearing a loud boom before realizing something was wrong. He immediately called 911 and began helping evacuate residents from the seven-unit building. The official cause of the fire had not yet been announced.

“I’ve been a manager here for seven weeks. I did it to get a better apartment,” Palm said, half-joking. “Guess that didn’t work out.”

Residents said the building owners believe it could take up to a year before all of the damage is repaired and the building is safe to rent again, leaving many of the former residents displaced and working out what comes next.