"The important thing right now is to get the (Stokes) family back living a normal life as soon as possible" especially since school starts Wednesday, said Ronald P. Clark, a tri-owner of the Summer Street property. "I am thankful that nobody got hurt."

Clark said the building, located on Summer Street at the intersection with Randall Street, has been in the family for 40 years. Clark owns it along with his mother and brother, David.

"I lived there for 37 years, my kids lived there" before they started renting it to the Stokes family, Clark said.

The apartment of Charles and Stacy Stokes and their four children sustained heavy smoke, but minimal structural damage, after members of the Adams Fire Department and Alert Hose Company contained the fire to its place of origin: the basement.

The cause of the 1:45 a.m. blaze is still under investigation, but foul play is not suspected, according to Fire Chief Stephen Brown.

"Cellar fires are always difficult fires because you have to penetrate the heat to get to the seat of the fire," Brown said.

Charles Stokes called 911 after he was awakened by the smell of smoke, according to Brown. The Stokes family got out on their own, while the other four families in the building were removed by members of the fire and Adams Police departments.

Charles, Stacy and their four children stayed with family in the area following the blaze. All other occupants were able to return to their individually owned two-story apartments after firefighters cleared the scene about 5 a.m., according to Brown.

The Stokes did not have insurance for their assets at the property.

Brown said the fire was contained "relatively quickly" with the majority of fire damage limited to the basement. However, there was smoke damage throughout the apartment and the entire building.

"We had hot spots all through the basement that we put out," Brown said. Firefighters stood by to ensure there were no additional "flare-ups."

As an added safety precaution, Brown said the electric company was called to shut off electricity to the Stokes' home.

Electricity is one of many things that will need to be fixed before the Stokes can return home, Clark said.

"Today being a holiday kind of put us behind the eight ball," Clark said Sunday night.

A fire clean-up company was on site Monday and told Clark the mess could probably be handled in one day. Early Monday morning, smoke lingered and water dripped inside the cellar but by later in the afternoon the smoke had lifted and things appeared much better.

"I didn't know how to react when I got to the scene because I wasn't sure about the extent of the damage," Clark said.

He said his first phone call today would be to his insurance company to see what his next step should be. By about 9 p.m. Monday, Clark said he had set-up an appointment with a carpenter to look at the damage; a plumber and electrician were also being contacted, he said.

Clark praised firefighters.

"These guys, even at 2 a.m., are like a well-oiled machine," Clark said. "It's unbelievable. It's just all business. They do a wonderful job."