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LITTLETON, Colo. — One person was killed in a two-alarm apartment fire early Wednesday morning, South Metro Fire Rescue said.

The fire started about 4 a.m. at the Verona apartment complex 2901 W. Centennial Drive, near South Federal Boulevard and West Belleview Avenue.

Crews numbering 76 personnel and 39 units responded and found fire engulfing the first-floor apartment and exterior staircase.

A female was found inside the unit and taken to Littleton Adventist Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Josh Knowlton saw smoke as he ran out of his apartment.

“When I came down the stairs, someone was screaming, ‘There’s someone inside that building.’ So me and another gentleman kicked the door in and tried to see if we could go in and help them, and by that time there was just fire all over the place,” Knowlton said.

The name and age of the victim will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office pending notification of next of kin.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials said it appears to be accidental.