A woman jumped out a second-story window after a fire gutted a Bowling Green apartment complex early New Year’s Day.

The Bowling Green Fire Division was called to the the Garden Grove Townhomes on North Grove Street around 3 a.m.

“Looking at the condition of the apartment … she probably would have perished,” said Fire Chief Bill Moorman.

“It’s what saved her,” Moorman said of the jump.

The woman was transported to Wood County Hospital. Moorman did not have an update on her condition.

Four or five families were displaced due to smoke and fire damage, he said.

The apartment owners and the American Red Cross are assisting residents, Moorman said.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and the state fire marshal has been called in to investigate, he said. It appears the fire started in the kitchen area.

When firefighters arrived, there was fire coming out of two of the upstairs windows, Moorman said.

They did a “transition attack,” using water to douse from outside, then entering the building and putting it out “rather quickly,” he said.

“We believe the fire started in the kitchen area,” Moorman said.

Bowling Green firefighters were assisted by Middleton and Central Joint fire departments and private ambulance services, Medic 120 and Medic 680.

There was also assistance from the Bowling Green Police Division and public works.

“They did a fantastic job going door to door making sure people were evacuated,” Moorman said of police officers.