Residents banged on neighbors' doors after a fire broke out in a Burlington County, New Jersey, apartment complex late Sunday night. It was too late for a boy who died in the fire.
The 12-year-old died and at least six people were taken to area hospitals with injuries after the blaze broke out just before 10:30 p.m. along Adams Drive at the Fox Meadow Apartment Complex in Maple Shade, Maple Shade police said.
"Upon arrival police units found heavy smoke and fire coming from the roof of the apartments," police wrote in a Nixle report.
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One resident said he and another family member joined firefighters in going door-to-door -- even breaking some windows out in a search for anyone still trapped in units.
"We started banging on doors trying to get people out," Johnathan Marbosa -- who only recently moved in with his father -- said. "People were like, 'what's going on? What's going on?' And we're just telling them, 'hey, there's a fire, just get out, get out, grab whatever.'"
The heat was so intense that it melted some of the siding on a nearby building.
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Among the injured were the mother and 7-year-old sister of the 12-year-old who died, police said. Both of them were listed in critical condition at the hospital.
While police have not yet released the 12-year-old boy's identity, his grandmother, Kim Dupell, identified him as "AJ."
"AJ was the brightest ray of sunshine. He had such a giving heart. He was an avid gamer. An animal lover," Dupell said. "He loved his family. He was my heart. He was my first-born biological grandchild."
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Police said the other people who were hurt were in stable condition, mostly from smoke inhalation.
One firefighter had their gear catch fire, but wasn't injured, police said.
In total, 16 units were damaged before the fire was brought under control around 11:40 p.m. The morning after, SkyForce10 showed holes in the roof where the fire appeared to gut some units.
The cause of the dealy fire remained under investigation Monday as firefighters returned to the scene.
