Southern Illinois University Police and the Carbondale Fire Department are investigating what started a fire inside an apartment building on East Evergreen Terrace Sunday afternoon.
The complex mostly houses students and their families, but the particular building affected only had single students living inside.
Jacob Bolton was at a friend's house Sunday morning when he received a surprising message.
"I was over at the lake, I get a text message that my apartment building is on fire," said Bolton.
Beth Barnes and her friend Matthew Scarborough were in the middle of making cooking when they heard a pounding on the door.
"I was working on homework and making lunch," Barnes said. "We had just sat down to eat and all of a sudden there was a big knock on the door," said Barnes.
The knock on Barnes door was a warning to get out of the building.
"So I got up and went to the door and there was a police officer who said you need to get out, the building is on fire," Barnes said.