A man and a woman sustained smoke inhalation and 17 are displaced after an early morning fire in Tamaqua.

The fire at 82-84 Hunter St., a three-story apartment building, was called into the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 9:06 a.m. Seven apartments were affected from the fire, although only one apartment had fire damage with the remainder being smoke and water.

“The fire is accidental in nature, caused by careless smoking,” Tamaqua Fire Chief Jim Connely said.

A woman who was the tenant in apartment 7 told Connely she woke up to the smell of smoke and flames going up the wall. She told him she had been smoking prior to going to bed and put the cigarette in a nearby ashtray.

“More than likely the cigarette was not totally extinguished,” Connely said.

A man in apartment 1, which is nearby apartment 7, heard a hallway smoke alarm going off and went to investigate. When he did, he saw the woman and they escaped. All other occupants and pets also escaped, Connely said.

He expected the smoke inhalation victims to be released from the hospital today.

The fire was contained in about 30 minutes and extinguished in 45. Some of the structure had working smoke detectors while other areas did not. Only one renter, the man in apartment 1, had renters insurance, Connely said. Matthew Walters, the property owner, had insurance, the fire chief said.

He estimated the damage at $60,000.

“The building is condemned until we had remediation by the property owner,” he said, adding that was happening.

The American Red Cross is assisting with, food, lodging and shelter for the displaced. Patty Daley and Danielle Boris, disaster responders with the agency, said 11 adults and 6 children are affected. A 1-year-old child and teenagers are among the fire victims, they said.

“No one can stay there right now,” Boris said.

Their names are not being provided.

The following breakdown was provided: Apartment 1, an adult; apartment 2, one adult, apartment 3, two adults and four children; apartment 4, two adults; apartment 5, two adults and two children; apartment 6, two adults, apartment 7, one adult.

The Tamaqua Fire Department, Tamaqua Police, Tamaqua Ambulance and Lehighton ALS responded.