Lisa Kimmerle said the kittens were meowing so loudly they woke her up early Tuesday, WJXT-TV reported. Then she heard popping noises and realized something was wrong.

By the time she was out of bed, flames were shooting up the stairwell. She and other second-floor residents were able to get onto the roof, and a neighbor helped them to the ground.

No one was injured in the fire, which gutted the building.

"God woke the kittens up, and the kittens woke us up," Kimmerle said.

Both kittens survived, although one disappeared for several hours after the fire.