Friends and family are mourning a woman who was killed in a fire at a Burlington County condominium complex.
The 2-alarm fire started in Building 39 of the Florence Tollgate Condominiums in Florence Township around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Fire officials told NBC10 they searched the building that night but it was dark and not structurally sound. It wasn’t until Saturday morning when they found the body of a woman on a couch. Family members identified the victim as 72-year-old Irene Thorn Avillion.
Avillion's niece, Lisa Reed, said she first found out about the fire when she watched NBC10 Saturday. She then called her family to see if anyone had heard from her aunt. They then called hospitals and the Red Cross and later learned the tragic news.
“She was a kindhearted person,” Reed said. “She loved animals. She loved people, loved her family. She would do anything, go out of her way for anybody.”
Six other people, including three first responders, were also injured during the fire. The victims were taken to the hospital and all but one were released.
Eight people in all were displaced by the fire. Officials continue to investigate the cause.
