QUINCY — Six families — 24 people — were displaced from their homes early Saturday when a 3-alarm fire ripped through their apartment building in central Quincy.

The fire was reported at 1:30 a.m. All the families got out uninjured.

“When we arrived it was fully involved. We were fortunate,” said Tony Leibelt, assistant chief at Grant County Fire District 3.

The Apple Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross is providing emergency housing, food, clothing and child-care items to the affected families, Marriah Thornock, chapter director, said Saturday in a news release.

The two-story wood structure is one of four buildings in the apartment complex, which is in the 300 block of 3rd Avenue Southwest. It contains eight apartments, he said. At least some of them had working smoke alarms.

The fire caused “significant” damage to two of the apartments, the building’s attic and roof, Leibelt said. Smoke and water damaged the remaining units.

About 20 firefighters from Grant County 3 and 13 and the Ephrata Fire Department responded to the scene, he said. Douglas County Fire District 2 provided support.

The fire was under control in just over an hour.

“I can’t stress the importance of working smoke alarms,” he said.

Christine Pratt: 665-1173

pratt@wenatcheeworld.com