Fire Tears Through At Least 3 Townhouses In Lodi
LODI, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Several families were left without homes after a fire ripped through a townhouse complex early Tuesday morning.
This fire, which started just after 6 a.m., spread really fast and left behind a lot of damage. The entire area was shut down as investigators tried to figure out how it all started. The smoke damage was plainly visible, especially at the top section of the homes, CBS2's Marc Liverman reported.
Smoke and flames poured out of the windows and the roof. Chopper 2 was over the scene as thick, black smoke billowed into the sky.
"When I woke up I heard them saying and screaming, 'Everybody out! Everybody out! Get out! Get out!'" neighbor Velda Burgess said.
A neighbor's cellphone video shows some of the first fire trucks to the scene on Home Place as the fire started to overtake a section of a Lodi townhouse.
"I just opened the window and I saw that it's on fire, so I called 911 and they said they're on the way," a woman named "Jodi" said.
But it was already too late.
"It spread so fast and everything is gone," Jodi said.
Firefighters said flames got into the attic space and once there they spread across the building. Everyone was able to get out on their own and no one was hurt, CBS2's Liverman reported.
"I'm glad that there is no wind. I'm glad that everyone is OK, even though there is a lot of damage. I'm glad that everyone is safe," Jodi said.
Even a cat was rescued from one of the apartments.
Investigators said there were smoke alarms in the units.