DEPTFORD, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A three-alarm fire broke out in the middle of the night at an apartment complex in Deptford, Gloucester County. One person suffered smoke inhalation, and several people were displaced.
The fire started before 1 a.m. Monday on Hemlock Court at the Narraticon Apartments, a 443-unit complex off Delsea Drive.
Flames broke out on one of the back porches and spread to other homes, according to Deptford Fire Chief Richard Thomas. Nine units were damaged.
“I peeked out of my patio and … I was like, is somebody lighting fireworks? And then … oh no, things are on fire,” said Melissa Dwornick, who lives in a nearby building.
Police officers went around the Narraticon complex to make sure people got out safely.
Tim Jimenez/KYW Newsradio
“Just the heat of it was intense,” Dwornick said. “There were these little micro-explosions happening. It was really surreal.”
The smoke detectors in the apartment were working, officials said. There were no serious injuries reported. One person had smoke inhalation but refused medical treatment.
The Red Cross is helping displaced residents like Ken Densten.
“[Firefighters] said there are pipes broken and my place is flooded,” said Densten, a veteran in his 70s. He received a $350 check from the Red Cross to help for the time being.
The Red Cross said six families, 12 people in all, were displaced.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is under investigation.
