3-alarm fire in Royersford placed under control; 6 homes destroyed
ROYERSFORD, Pa. (CBS) -- Six rowhomes were destroyed in a 3-alarm fire in Royersford, Montgomery County, on Wednesday night, emergency officials said.
Fire crews placed the blaze under control just after 9 p.m. after it burned for roughly three hours on the 200 block of 2nd Avenue.
"The flames were shooting out the back just as much as they were the front," Bo Trackshack, a neighbor, said. "You could see firefighters and everybody smashing windows. I've never seen something like this before in my life."
No injuries have been reported.
Melissa Hotsko and her family live in the house next door to the homes that burned and said they had just minutes to evacuate.
"The lights were flickering, they were cooking dinner, and the next thing you know there was a bang on the door and they told them had to get out," Hotsko said.
While their home was spared, Hotsko said their hearts are with their neighbors who have lost everything.
"We're thankful our house was saved but devastated for our neighbors and their losses, so it's bittersweet," she said.
The Red Cross said its Disaster Action Team was at the scene of the fire. The organization set up a warming station at the fire department on Green Street, Royersford Mayor Alex Metricarti said. Impacted residents were also able to charge their devices there if they lost power.
"Tonight, emergency responders from throughout our area are still working to ensure the fire is out and the neighboring homes are not in any danger," Metricarti said Wednesday night. "They are also working to restore electrical service to the surrounding houses as quickly as it will be safe to do so. The high winds this evening are complicating the situation."
Power was restored by Thursday morning.
On Thursday, "the work to determine next steps and assist the families will begin," Metricarti added.
More than five fire companies responded to the scene.
Firefighters are still putting out hotspots. It's unclear how the fire started.