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At Least 1 Injured After Flames Erupt At Maple Shade Condo Complex

MAPLE SHADE, N.J. (CBS) - At least one person was injured after a two-alarm fire ripped through a condo complex in Burlington County. It happened just before 4 a.m. Thursday at the Valley Glen Condos on the 400 block of North Stiles Avenue in Maple Shade.

When fire crews arrived they found thick smoke and fire. The condo building was fully engulfed in flames. They had to act quickly and strike a second alarm.

"We pulled up, we had fire through the roof already and out the second-story windows," Maple Shade Fire Chief Andrew Simonsick said.

Those who live in the building say neighbors went door to door, making sure people woke up.

A woman who lives in an upstairs corner unit with her very young child tells Eyewitness News she was up when she heard a loud knock at her door and peeked outside and saw smoke. That's when she grabbed her baby, grabbed her purse, ran outside and called 911. She was one of the first people outside and saw the building go up in flames.

"When I saw that, I went back inside, grabbed him [baby], grabbed the computer that was right next to him and ran out the door," Grau said.

Grau's corner condo is now gone, but she helped save others by calling 911.

Responding officers sprang into action, rescuing a senior who needed help.

"Police took their sticks and bang, bang, and she got up," resident Tammy Spreng said. "They had to get her out through the back door."

She was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. Everyone else made it out safely and no one else was hurt.

Sherry Toro, who lives in a neighboring building, captured the fire on cell phone video. She raced outside after her cats woke her from a deep sleep.

"I woke up at about 3 o'clock in the morning. My cats were jumping on me and I'm thinking 'why are you up, you know, it's not time to eat yet.' I went to the bathroom, I came out and I looked out my window and I could see an orange glow and I was like oh my God and I screamed. I said to my husband, 'everything's on fire outside,' I said, 'get up, get up, get up!,'" Sherry Toro tells Eyewitness News. "I was devastated because I know some of the neighbors across the way and I'm so sad for them right now that they lost everything."

At Least 1 Injured After Flames Erupt At Maple Shade Condo Complex
Photo Credit: Sherry Toro

 

Firefighters worked to douse hot spots at the complex even after the sun rose on Thursday, but the damage was done.

The building impacted houses a dozen units, eight of them are now destroyed.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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