WASHINGTON — An apartment fire Saturday has left 22 people without a home, according to Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

The fire was reported in North Laurel, Maryland at around 10:45 a.m. at a two-story building in the 9700 block of Country Meadows Lane. Arriving crews found heavy smoke spewing from the second and third floor apartments — a total of 12 units were affected.

It took firefighters about an hour to put out the blaze.

The Red Cross is helping the displaced residents, who all were able to escape before crews arrived. One person was hospitalized for an ankle injury and  minor burns. Two others were treated at the scene.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Initial damage was assessed at over $1 million.