WILMINGTON, N.C. – Investigators say improperly discarded smoking material caused a fire at an apartment in Wilmington.

• Resident was able to escape the fire.
• The fire was quickly extinguished.
• Two cats died from the fire.

It happened just before 10 p.m. Wednesday in the 3300 block of Wickslow Drive at The Preserve at Pine Valley.         

Officials say the fire started in a bedroom on the first floor and crews were able to get the fire out in minutes.

The person who lived in the apartment was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and is expected to be okay.

However, two cats died in the fire.