3-alarm fire rips through apartment building in Deptford, cause unknown
Fire displaces 12 families in Deptford Township
Twelve families are staying in hotels or with loved ones after a fire tore through their apartment building in Deptford Township in the early hours of Monday, Aug. 31, according to officials. The third floor collapsed as fire crews battled the blaze, and some residents lost everything except the clothes they were wearing.
DEPTFORD, N.J. - No one was seriously injured after a 3-alarm fire tore through an apartment complex in Deptford overnight Sunday.
Fire breaks out at Narraticon apartments
What we know:
Firefighters responded to Hemlock Court in the Narraticon Apartments complex just after midnight for reports of a fire.
The fire quickly struck a second alarm as firefighters battled heavy flames, and reached a third alarm a short time later.
One person suffered smoke inhalation, but refused medical treatment, according to firefighters.
The fire was placed under control around 3 a.m. after a two-hour battle.
Nine units were impacted by the fire. The American Red Cross is helping those displaced find shelter.
Residents escape safely
What they're saying:
Deptford Fire Chief Richard Thomas spoke to reporters at the scene of the fire.
"All the residents got out, that helped big time," Chief Thomas said. "Some of [the residents] were helping us stretch hoses."
Restoration crews spent Monday boarding up what remained of the fire-damaged Narraticon Apartments in Deptford Township. The apartments are now off limits to 12 families as the property owner works to find them new housing.
Officials say the fire began on the third floor porch where Angela Randolph was staying with her daughter and two children.
Randolph described the moments leading up to their escape. "I was laying down and all I heard was my granddaughter run in and say fire, fire..and she was like grandma come on come on," said Randolph. As her daughter knocked on neighbors' doors to warn others, Randolph tried to fight the fire herself but had no success. "I left them for a minute and went to the kitchen sink filling up buckets of water to throw on the fire but it was not doing any good. It was just puffin. It happened so fast," said Randolph.
The Deptford Fire Marshal is leading the investigation and tells Fox 29 it could take weeks to determine how the fire started. Investigators are examining several possibilities, and are looking into whether an e-bike battery could have played a role in the fire.
Angela Randolph expressed gratitude that her family made it out safely. "It’s ok. It’s going to be ok. God was with us. It’s ok. God has a plan," said Randolph.
Neighbor Melissa Dwornick described her reaction to seeing the fire. "I was like oh is someone setting off fireworks right there. And said no no that’s a fire," said Dwornick.
The property owner is working to relocate all affected families, and many are staying in hotels, or with friends or family.
Questions remain unknown
What we don't know:
Officials have not yet determined the official cause of the fire, and it remains under investigation.
The Source: Information provided by the Deptford Fire Department.