Investigators say the fire that destroyed a Lincoln apartment complex Saturday morning started on a third floor balcony after someone put out a cigarette in a flammable plastic container.

The three-alarm fire started shortly after 6 a.m. destroying all 24 units at the Thomasbrook Apartments on South 60th and Lillibridge streets. It took firefighters about two hours to put out the fire. No one was hurt.

The Red Cross is assisting those who lost their home. "Red Cross comes in and also helps people that are displaced, help them get temporary residence," says Lincoln Fire & Rescue Chief Niles Ford.

"The Red Cross plays a very important role whenever we have these fires because they are the stop-gap for us in-between people being displaced and having somewhere to be for tonight."

Firefighters say the complex did have a fire wall, but even with that it can be difficult to contain flames once they reach the roof.