AUBURN – Four people were burned out of their homes early Wednesday morning when fire struck an apartment house on Webster Street.

No one was hurt in the 2 a.m. blaze, but the two-story, three-unit building was extensively damaged by flames, heat, water and smoke. As many as seven cats may have perished in the fire, but a dog survived.

Auburn fire crews were joined by others from departments in nearby towns as they battled flames that ripped through the roof of the building. Firefighters were able to keep flames from spreading to nearby homes, including an apartment house roughly 20 feet away.

Fire officials said two of the apartments were occupied when the building went up in flames. A neighbor said a couple and their daughter lived in one of the apartments and were able to escape with the family dog.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross went to the scene to help the four people forced to flee their homes.

Later Wednesday, investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office were trying to determine the cause of the fire. It appeared to have started at the front of the building, officials said.

The house is across the street from Webster Street School. By Wednesday night, crews were boarding up the windows. It could not be determined whether the gutted apartment house would be repaired or torn down.