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Officials: Child, 12, killed in Maple Shade apartment fire that left multiple residents, firefighter injured

By FOX 29 staff
Updated  May 8, 2023 5:29pm EDT
Burlington County
FOX 29 Philadelphia

Officials: Child, 12, killed in Maple Shade apartment fire that left multiple residents, firefighter injured

Authorities say the American Red Cross is assisting residents who were displaced after the two-alarm fire damaged 16 apartments, injured 6 people, and killed a 12-year-old boy.

MAPLE SHADE, N.J. -
Fire crews in Burlington County responded to a two-alarm apartment fire that left multiple people injured on Sunday night.

According to officials, the fire broke out at the Fox Meadow Apartment complex on Adams Drive shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Authorities say when emergency crews arrived on scene, they saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the roof of one of the apartments.

Police say they began evacuations as the Maple Shade Fire Department and units from other local areas joined to extinguish the flames. 

2-alarm fire in Maple Shade leaves child dead, others injured

A 12-year-old child did not survive injuries sustained in a two-alarm house fire in Maple Shade, New Jersey, sources say. FOX 29's Mike Jerrick has the update.

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The fire was placed under control just before 11:45 p.m. after reaching two alarms, according to authorities.

Officials say six people, including a firefighter, were transported to local hospitals and 16 apartments were damaged.

Joseph Stackhouse lives nearby and says he tried to save as many people as he could. But, he wasn't able to save a 12-year-old boy who died in the fire. Sources tell FOX 29 that the boy was trapped in the bathroom with his mom and sister, who are in critical condition.

"We're like one big family. We all tried to help and get everybody out of their apartments," said Stackhouse. "There were people sleeping that didn't even know."
 

Firefighters responded to the Fox Meadow Apartment Complex, where damage can be seen to a unit after a two-alarm blaze ripped through. 

The American Red Cross is assisting residents who were displaced, police say.

Marilyn Rolon's apartment is one of the 16 units damaged. She says last night, she slept on the floor at a municipal building. But, as for tonight, she says she doesn't know what she's going to do.

"I don't know where I'm gonna go. I probably ended up sleeping in my car. Me as a tenant, I feel as though they should reach out for us. They should come out and help us," said Rolon.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.