One woman was killed and as many as 12 people were displaced when a fire broke out Thursday in a Thousand Oaks apartment complex, Ventura County fire officials said.

A heavy fire was reported shortly before 3 a.m. at a third-floor apartment at a complex on West Olsen Road, near California Lutheran University, said Bill Nash, a Ventura County fire spokesman.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke pouring out the door, and neighbors were already attempting to put it out.

"It was really quite brave," Nash said. "It was nice seeing neighbors helping neighbors."

After the fire was knocked down, firefighters found the body of an adult woman who has not been identified.

Nash said the Red Cross was called in to help residents. As many as a dozen of the residents could have been displaced by the fire.

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-- Rick Rojas