ST CHARLES, Mo. — A fire early Tuesday morning at a St. Charles apartment complex left a husband and wife dead.
Police identified the victims Tuesday afternoon as Mary L. Martin, 78, and Richard A. Martin, 79.
According to the St. Charles Fire Department, fire crews responded at about 6:30 a.m. to a fire at Sherman Square Apartments, a two-story complex located on Sherman Square Drive. The call initially came in as a disturbance because neighbors had heard yelling.
"I didn't think anything of it because they're doing some remodeling. Then the cops started banging on our door and telling us, 'Hurry there is an active fire, get out,'" neighbor Mariah Smith said. "I just had to grab the kids, and the cat, and get out."
At the scene, firefighters told 5 On Your Side that the couple on the first floor was trapped as crews arrived. When firefighters were able to kick down the door, they had already died on the building's main floor.
Heavy smoke was coming out the front door.
Police who first arrived on the scene were able to "verbally make contact with the victims prior to our arrival," Capt. Kelly Hunsel with St. Charles Fire Department said. "But between them making contact and when we arrived on the scene, that apartment was fully engulfed in flames."
Multiple other residents had to be rescued. Survivors were able to escape through the main door and back of the two-story complex, which has a basement.
The entire complex was impacted by the fire, with smoke damage throughout the building. One firefighter was taken to the hospital with injuries.
The fire was under control by about 7:50 a.m.
A neighbor of the Martins, Willie Jackson, ran out of his nearby apartment with his children on Tuesday morning.
"I know that elderly couple that lives there," Jackson said. "They always come in and out. They typically may need some help with some groceries or sometimes I may hold the door for them but we see them and they've been living there for a while now."
It was a heartbreaking scene around 11:50 a.m. as people were still arriving to the apartment complex crying after hearing that the husband and wife were killed.
Pets were also being carried out in crates from the building after fire crews had stopped the flames.
The American Red Cross handed out supplies and helped people find a place to stay the night.
"They're all devastating, whether the house is completely gone or whether it's smoke inhalation or just the smoke on the inside," Ken Barger with the American Red Cross Missouri said. "It's a tragedy."
Celebration Church in St. Peters said they are able to house anyone who has been displaced by the fire. If you're interested, call 314-734-1636 or the office at 636-279-2011. You can also email: pastorwillcelebration@gmail.com.
This is a developing story. 5 On Your Side will update it as more information becomes available.
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