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Families Return To Survey Homes After Fire In Lindenwold

By Charlotte Huffman

LINDENWOLD, N.J., (CBS) -- Fire investigators are still trying to determine what caused Thursday's fire that left 12 people homeless.

The fire broke out around 7 p.m. on the 700 block of Colonial Square Drive in Lindenwold, Camden County.

The Red Cross is providing shelter for the displaced families.

Eyewitness News was there Friday afternoon as families returned home to see the damage for the first time.

"This was our dining room," said Donald Davis as he entered his house.

The fire started next door but left little untouched inside the home Davis has known for nearly 20 years.

Insulation from the partially collapsed roof covered nearly everything.

"At least my piano and my clothes didn't get messed up or anything," said Donald's daughter, Dorothy as she peered into her bedroom.

In Donald's room, he was shocked to find out he can now see the sky from his bed.

"We can watch the stars," he said.

In all four houses were damaged or destroyed.

"When I smelled smoke, I knew something was wrong," said a resident, who has lived there for 20 years. While she escaped, her dog, a three-year-old Yorkie, never made it out.

"This is what I have. This is it. This is it," she said.

It took firefighters 90 minutes to gain control and they continued to douse hot spots into the evening. Fire officials say by the time they arrived, flames were already shooting from the roof.

"Windows were left open so the more oxygen is going to fuel the fire in a much quicker path and that's working against them," Camden County Chief Fire Marshal Paul Sandrock said Thursday.

"It's unbelievable. I just can't believe it. This is all I've got - my work uniform, what I've got on. Yeah, I'm crushed," said Donald.

But despite debris and soot covering most of their things, the Davis family was in good spirits, feeling thankful to be alive.

"It's going to be all right. We are going to be fine. God is with us, he's good and he is still good and he will see us through," said Donald.

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