15 Left Out in the Cold by Fire

Blaze destroys two-dozen apartments

More than a dozen people were forced out into the frigid January air Monday night after flames spread through their apartment complex.

The fire broke out just around 6 p.m. in a third floor unit at the Echelon Glen Apartments along the 200 block of Lucas Lane in Voorhees, N.J., officials said.

"I came out my door and saw smoke…I couldn't see anything," said resident Averyel Sawyer. "I just saw smoke and ran down the steps."

The flames quickly spread from the first unit to nine others, officials said. Water damaged another 14 apartments leaving 24 units inhabitable.

But thankfully, no one was hurt.

"The firewalls were extremely important. They were able to help us contain the fire until we were able to get enough water on it to extinguish the fire and cool it down," Voorhees Twp. fire chief Jim Pacifico said.

The Red Cross is providing shelter for 15 people displaced by the fire and fire officials are investigating a cause.

Contact Us