MT. VERNON – The Red Cross has been called to assist four occupants of a Mt. Vernon apartment building displaced after a Wednesday afternoon fire.

According to the Mt. Vernon Fire Department, there were no injuries when fire destroyed the former church at 1101 Perkins.

The building had recently been purchased and turned into four apartment units and a resale shop.

A third-shift worker was reportedly sleeping when firefighters and police arrived on the scene around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

First responders were ultimately able to wake that person and get them out of the building safely.

Officials believe the fire was likely electrical and foul play is not suspected. The building was reportedly uninsured.

Mt. Vernon Fire called a full box alarm on the fire and multiple agencies provided mutual aid at the scene and at the fire station.

Firefighters remained on the scene for about three hours, with mutual aid provided by Kell, Woodlawn, Waltonville, and Jefferson Fire Protection District.