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Nine people were transported to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment this morning after a fire damaged an apartment building in Richmond’s East End.

The fire was reported at 8:31 a.m. at a three-story apartment building in the 1300 block of Coalter Street.

Initial reports indicated people may have been trapped inside, but that turned out to not be the case, Richmond fire Lt. Shawn Jones said.

Jones said emergency crews at the scene examined 19 people and transported nine to hospitals, mostly for smoke inhalation. One woman had a leg injury after jumping from a window to safety, Jones said.

The fire was brought under control quickly, and its cause was under investigation.

The Greater Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross was called to help provide housing assistance to anyone who needed it.