DREXEL HILL (WPVI) – – Rescues were made at the Llanerch Place Apartments on Township Line Road in Drexel Hill, Upper Darby Township, early Saturday morning. Residents tell Action News it was terrifying. Smoke filled the hallways, people were panicking, and several ended up trapped on their balconies, waiting to be rescued.
“We just ran back to one of our neighbor’s apartments, we closed the door, and we went to the deck,” said Raymond Erwin, a resident.
Erwin said he was among the residents rescued from a balcony around 10:30 a.m.
“They got us down with the ladders, it was definitely very scary,”‘said Erwin.
Fire crews from multiple departments rushed in and worked to knock down the fire, which started on the second floor of this three-story apartment building. Officials say one resident later died at the hospital. Another remains in critical condition, and six others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
“Fires in apartment buildings are exceptionally challenging when the fire is anywhere below the top floor. You have all of the floors above to deal with. So in this case you have people trapped on the second floor, you have people trapped on the third floor,” said Nick Martin, Fire Chief, Upper Darby Township.
One Upper Darby firefighter also suffered burn injuries and was taken to the hospital. He has since been released and is recovering. But the damage here is extensive, apartments on the second and third floors were heavily impacted by smoke, the first floor had water damage. About 75 residents were displaced.
“I’m hoping that we can get some placement or something, they can put us somewhere or if we’re allowed back in I’m not sure but this is ridiculous, it’s freezing,” said Alyiah Gilbert, a resident.
Delaware County Emergency Services, along with the Red Cross and other support groups, stepped in to help. A reception center was set up at Drexel Hill Middle School for residents who had nowhere else to go.
“It’s definitely a little traumatizing, very scary, honestly I’m still trying to process it,” said Erwin.
Firefighters say the flames were contained to one apartment. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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