Local
Pennsauken apartment fire sends woman to hospital in critical condition
A woman fell from a fifth-floor balcony while fleeing a fire at the 14-story Cooper River Apartments early Monday. Firefighters rescued two residents who were trapped by smoke on the ninth floor, and most residents evacuated.
A woman was critically injured after falling from a balcony during a multi-alarm fire early Monday at the Cooper River Apartments in Pennsauken, officials said.
Firefighters were called around 2 a.m. to the 14-story building in the 2400 block of McClellan Avenue. They found heavy smoke coming from an apartment at the rear of the building, while flames were visible from a fifth-floor unit.
The woman was seen hanging from a balcony and let go before rescuers could reach her, officials said. She fell to the parking lot and was taken to Cooper Hospital in critical condition.
The fire prompted a second alarm, bringing in neighboring fire departments. Nearly an hour later, officials called a third alarm as crews continued battling the blaze.
Two residents in wheelchairs called 911 from the ninth floor after smoke filled their apartment and they could not get out. Firefighters rescued them, and neither was injured, officials said.
Most residents evacuated. Some people on the upper floors were told to shelter in place. One neighbor said the stairwell was smoky as residents made their way out. After reaching safety, he and others brought blankets from a car for people outside.
The fire was later brought under control. Officials had not announced a cause.