PENNSAUKEN, N.J. (WPVI) — A woman was critically injured during a multi-alarm fire at a high-rise apartment complex in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
Around 40 people in 20 5th-floor apartments have also been displaced.
Firefighters were called to the Cooper River Apartments in the 2400 block of McClellan Avenue around 2 a.m. on Monday.
When they arrived, they found heavy smoke pouring from one of the apartments in the rear of the 14-story building.
Viewer video shows flames shooting out of a 5th-floor unit.
Viewer video shows flames shooting out of a 5th-floor unit amid a fire at Cooper River Apartments in Pennsauken, New Jersey
Action News was told that a woman was seen hanging from a window. Officials say she let go and fell to the parking lot below before rescuers could get to her.
She was taken to Cooper Hospital in critical condition.
A second alarm was quickly struck, putting out the call for help from neighboring fire departments.
Most of the residents needed to evacuate, while some on the top floors were told to shelter in place.
One neighbor said he initially thought the fire alarms might be a false alarm.
“I heard shouting outside and saw people running and that’s when we decided we needed to get our shoes on and our coat on, and come out,” said Jason Dennery. “The stairwell was very smoky.”
Dennery said that once he was safely outside, he then turned his focus to helping his neighbors.
“We went to the car and got some blankets for people,” he added.
The fire was so intense that after nearly an hour, a third alarm was struck, according to officials.
“The door was hot,” said Sage Dagit. “The door to push open to 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 were unable to escape as their apartment filled with smoke.
They were rescued by firefighters but were not injured, according to officials.
The fire chief was asked about challenges fighting a fire like this.
“You have a high occupancy. Everybody is usually home this time of day. A fire on the fifth floor — 14 story building — smoke travel, the occupants, all those things become a factor,” said Chief Jonathan Hutton.
The fire has since been placed under control.
The chief said the most severe damage is concentrated to the apartment where the fire started.
There is also smoke and water damage in other fifth floor apartments.
Video from Drone 6 shows that major damage to the unit at the center of the blaze.
Video from Drone 6 shows major damage in the 5th-floor Pennsauken apartment, where an early morning fire forced the evacuation of the 14 story high-rise
The Red Cross and property management are working together to provide those residents displaced with shelter.
There has been no word on the cause of the fire.
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