A massive fire at a Montgomery county apartment complex that likely started in the trash chute left one resident dead, two others hurt and a firefighter injured.
"the hallway was just pitch black with smoke," said resident "Steve."
Crews blocked off surrounding streets as they battled the fire at the Norris Apartments on Swede Street near Marshall Street in Norristown, Pennsylvania early Wednesday morning.
The blaze left one resident dead, two residents with what firefighters described as minor injuries and a firefighter with a hand injury.
It could have been worse if not for quick
"The credit really goes to the firefighters who braved the elements and the tenuous situation," said Steve. "I'm just happy to be here."
The fire chased at least 21 people — no families — from their homes in the five-story building were sheltered by the American Red Cross at nearby Norristown High School. At least nine people from nearby homes came to the shelter as well after they lost power.
Some of the fire victims included elderly people and people with disabilities.
Part of rear of the building collapsed.
"The fire did burn out of control for sometime," said fire Chief Tom O'Donnell. Crews got the four-alarm blaze under control after nearly six hours.
O'Donnell said that things could have been worse and that firefighters rescued residents from inside multiple units.
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Smoke from the blaze could be smelled by people in nearby Bridgeport.
Expect delays in the area around the county courthouse. Elm or Main streets could be used to get around the scene, said NBC10 First Alert Traffic reporter Jillian Mele. Expect some SEPTA delays in the area and icy spots from water runoff.
An initial investigation revealed that the fire likely started in the building's trash chute, said firefighters on the scene.
O'Donnell said that the fire department responded to the apartments just last week after someone left food on a stove.
