DES MOINES, Iowa — A fire forced the evacuation of an apartment building on Des Moines’ north side early Wednesday morning.

District Chief Steve Brown with the Des Moines Fire Department says crews were called to the building at 3720 MLK Parkway around 3:43 a.m. When crews arrived they found an active fire in the mechanical room on the second floor. The fire had also extended into the third-floor electrical room.

Brown says crews initially had issues fighting the fire because the electricity to the building was still on and the power source into the building was arcing. MidAmerican Energy was contacted and they cut the power to the building.

“We had some issues fighting this fire because the electric was on and it kept us from extinguishing the fire completely at that time, we did get the power off and we have control of the fire at this time,” said Brown.

Fire crews are continuing to monitor hot spots.

Brown says residents won’t be able to get back into the building right away, ““No one is going to be able to get back in this building, the power is off and there’s major fire damage to the electric.”

DART is assisting the displaced tenants by providing buses for them to stay in. The Red Cross is also there to assist the residents.

The fire is similar in nature to one at the same apartment building from back in March, according to Brown, where there was also a fire in the electrical room. Des Moines police officers caught children who were thrown from a window on the third floor of the building in that case.

No injuries have been reported.