PARKLAND, Wash. -- A fast-moving blaze at an apartment complex prompted several residents to jumped out of the windows on Tuesday night, according to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue.

Chief Matt Holm said firefighters responded to reports of a blaze at the Ainsworth Court Apartments around 9 p.m. They arrived at the three-story building in the 10600 block of 16th Avenue Court South and quickly gained control of the blaze.

Firefighters believe the fire started in a vacant unit on the first floor and spread quickly. The flames ate through the walls into a unit on the second level, filling the upper level corridors with heavy smoke and flames until they became impassable.

Trapped in their homes, several residents on the top level decided the only way out was to jump from their windows.

Emily Endocott says she had to jump from her second-floor apartment after she opened her door to see a "huge billow of black smoke."

She tried to toss her cell phone and small dog, Sammy, to safety first.

"He (my neighbor) was right underneath and he caught my dog and I crawled halfway down to break my fall. I landed on the ground," she said.

Sammy's leash got tangled momentarily, dangling him, but she was able to rescue him with the help of a passer-by. Her cat also made it out safely.

Endicott was treated at the scene, but her neighbor who jumped from the window of his third-level unit was taken to Harborview Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

A teenage boy was also treated for smoke inhalation.

Officials said the fire damaged six units and displaced 13 residents.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.