Fire forced dozens of residents out of their Pennsylvania apartments overnight.
The blaze broke out around 1 a.m. on a second-floor landing of a unit at the Shillington Commons Apartments along Community Drive in Cumru Township, Berks County.
“We had a report of smoke in the building,” said Cumru Township Fire Chief Scott Brady. “Upon arrival the units saw fire outside the one entrance of the building.”
Firefighters jumped into action battling the flames and clearing residents from the building. They got the blaze under control but not before it gutted 12 units leaving 32 people out of their homes but luckily no one hurt. The American Red Cross helped the fire victims out with food and shelter.
The blaze appeared to have started when a decorative element of the three-story building caught fire, said investigators.
“We’re focused on the back of the building in an area that’s right above the entrance way – it’s some sort of a decorative porch area,” said Brady.
No word yet on when people will be allowed back into the their homes.
