15 taken to the hospital after Kansas City apartment fire

(AP) — Authorities say a fire erupted early Friday at a Kansas City apartment building, sending nine children and six adults to the hospital. 

The Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department said the top two floors of the three-story building were ablaze when crews arrived around 12:30 a.m. 

A Kansas City TV station reports that crews used ladders to reach the residents. 

Officials say two of the children are in critical condition and five adults have serious injuries. 

It took five fire chiefs, four pumper trucks, one rescue truck, three aerial trucks and 10 ambulances to bring the scene under control. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.