Woman seriously injured after falling from window during high-rise fire in Pennsauken, New Jersey
PENNSAUKEN, NJ (WPVI) — A woman was seriously injured during a multi-alarm fire at a high-rise apartment complex in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
Around forty people spread across 20 apartments on the 5th floor were also displaced.
Firefighters were called to the Cooper River Apartments, in the 2400 block of McClellan Avenue, around 2 a.m. Monday.
When they arrived, they found heavy smoke coming from one of the apartments at the rear of the 14-story building.
Bystander video shows flames shooting out of a 5th floor unit.
Video shows flames shooting out of a 5th floor unit amid a fire at the Cooper River Apartments in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
Action News has learned that a woman was seen hanging from a window. Authorities say she dropped it and fell to the parking lot below before rescuers could reach her.
She was transported to Cooper Hospital in critical condition.
A second alarm was quickly raised, triggering a call for help from neighboring firefighters.
Most residents had to evacuate, while some on the upper floors had to shelter in place.
A neighbor said he initially thought the fire alarms might be a false alarm.
“I heard screaming outside and I saw people running and that’s when we decided we needed to put on our shoes and coat and get out,” Jason Dennery said. “The stairwell was very smokey.”
Dennery said once he was outside safely, he then focused on helping his neighbors.
“We went to the car and got blankets for people,” he added.
The fire was so intense that after nearly an hour, a third alarm was sounded, authorities said.
“The door was hot,” said Sage Dagit. “The door to push open the stairwell was hot, and it was thick with smoke and I heard someone above me – and I heard a professional voice. I knew there was a cop or something with him.”
At one point, two residents in wheelchairs on the 9th floor called 911, saying they could not escape because their apartment was filling with smoke.
They were rescued by firefighters but were not injured, according to authorities.
The fire chief was asked about the challenges of fighting a fire like this.
“Occupancy is high. Everyone is usually home at that time of day. A fire on the fifth floor of a 14-story building, the smoke is moving, the occupants, all of those things become a factor,” said Chief Jonathan Hutton.
The fire has since been brought under control.
The chief said the most severe damage was concentrated in the apartment where the fire broke out.
There is also smoke and water damage to other apartments on the fifth floor.
Drone 6 video shows major damage to the unit at the center of the fire.
Drone 6 video shows major damage to Pennsauken’s 5th floor apartment, where an early morning fire forced the evacuation of the 14-story skyscraper.
The Red Cross and property management are working together to provide shelter for displaced residents.
No information has been released on the cause of the fire.
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