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Early Morning Blaze Forces Around 100 Out Of Whitemarsh Apartment Complex

By Dan Wing, Jan Carabeo

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. (CBS) --- Emergency crews rescued several people from an overnight fire at an apartment complex in Montgomery County overnight.

Fire crews were called to the Washington Towers apartment complex on Bethlehem Pike just before 1am, and Whitemarsh Township Fire Marshall Scott Lynch tells CBS 3 Eyewitness News that first responders arrived to a chaotic scene at the 4-story building:

"Smoke coming from all 4-floors, and fire visible from the 2nd floor rear, and 3rd floor rear of the building. There was multiple people that had been woken up that were trapped on their balconies, and at their lower basement windows that couldn't get out due to smoke."

Police officers and fire fighters from a number of different departments were able to get everyone out of the building safely, and that includes a mother who jumped from the 2nd floor with her 5 and 8-year old daughters. Lynch says 3-people were taken to area hospitals:

"In the unit where the fire started there's 5 residents in that unit. 2-were transported to Abington Hospital with smoke inhalation. A 3rd one was transported to Abington with burns on the feet, and they have since been transported down to Temple Burn Unit."

The Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania is on scene to assist any displaced residents, while fire officials continue to investigate the cause of this morning's fire.

Close to 100 people were displaced from the Whitemarsh apartment building. Most will be out for close to 48 hours.

Many of the displaced residents are staying at a nearby hotel.

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