(KAIR)--A report of people trapped in adjoined units on the second floor of a three story Atchison apartment complex, where a fire had been reported late Monday morning, led responding Atchison firefighters to a difficult search, through fire and heavy smoke, that ended with the discovery of a child's body.

Word of the fatal outcome of the fire, reported Monday morning around 11:30, at the Massasoit Court apartment complex, located at 314 Santa Fe, is delivered in a release from Atchison Fire Chief Patrick Weishaar, who identifies the child as "a toddler [who] was overcome from the smoke and fire in a back bedroom," found "underneath a pile of clothing and other items."

Weishaar says the victim was found only after firefighters forced their way into one of the two adjoined units, after they first encountered heavy smoke in the building's hallway when entering the building, and were told about the two people trapped in the adjoined units, where the fire was believed to be. However, after making their way into the one unit with force, heavy smoke was encountered, and the apartment found to be "overcrowded with furniture and other obstacles making the search difficult."

Weishaar says a man was able to be rescued out of a window through use of a ladder, and transported by Atchison County EMS to Amberwell Atchison. He was then transported to the University of Kansas Hospital, in Kansas City, Kansas, for smoke inhalation and burns. As of early Monday evening, it was reported that he was recovering from his injuries, according to the release.

As the search continued, Weishaar says "the fire had grown and was rapidly spreading throughout both units," meaning "search efforts had to be postponed to extinguish the fire," which was quickly brought under control.

The child's body was found once firefighters were able to resume the search.

"One firefighter was transported by ambulance to Amberwell where they were treated and released for minor injuries."

According to Weishaar, some of the several family pets in the apartment were able to be rescued, but two died in the fire.

The names of those involved in the fire, including the child victim, have not been made public.

Weishaar's release says "the Kansas State Fire Marshal along with 3 state fire investigators responded to assist" the Fire Department's investigator, along with those from the Atchison Police Department "to try and determine the cause of the fire."

Officers from the Atchison Police Department and Atchison County Sherriff- Office also responded, assisting with search and extinguishing operations, while the Atchison Salvation Army responded to assist with temporary accommodation for all tenants of apartment complex. The Red Cross of St. Joseph also assisted with resources.

The release notes that the "affected apartment was heavily damaged, but the remainder of the building remained unaffected other than light smoke and water damage."