One Dead, Dozens Rescued From Four Alarm Apartment Building Blaze In Norristown
By Jan Carabeo, Justin Finch, Tim Jimenez
NORRISTOWN, Pa., (CBS) -- One person was killed and three people, including a firefighter, were injured during an apartment building fire in Montgomery County early Wednesday morning.
The fire started shortly before 1 a.m. at the 600 block of Swede Street in Norristown. It quickly grew to four alarms. Firefighters had to get the 23 units inside the building evacuated quickly, rescuing several residents in the process.
Fire officials said one person was killed in the fire.
Three people were injured in the fire, including a firefighter who suffered a cut to the hand while searching the burning building.
Freezing temperatures made the job more difficult for firefighters battling flames pouring from the roof of the building all through the morning.
Linda Nailon was evacuated from a neighboring building. "I can't even imagine," she said. "I know about 10 people or so who live in the building, and they said it's going through the whole building. So I can't imagine ... I know how I'm feeling so they have to be 50 times, a hundred times worse."
The Red Cross is assisting residents who were forced to evacuate the fire. The Red Cross reports at least 21 people have been set up at a temporary shelter in the Norristown High School gymnasium.
Cots and blankets are set up in the gym for the people who escaped the fire with little more than the clothes they were wearing.
Many of the people forced to evacuate have medical needs or necessary medications that were left in the building. Red Cross medical volunteers have responded to the displaced residents to offer whatever assistance they can.
Shortly before 5:30 a.m., the fire was reported as under control, but still not completely extinguished. Hot spots continued to flare up through the morning.
Fire officials will investigate the cause of the blaze.
Stay tuned to CBSPhilly for more details on this developing story.