A three-alarm fire at the Hatfield Village Apartments in Montgomery County has left numerous residents displaced after it broke out on Thursday afternoon. The conflagration prompted a considerable response from emergency services, with firefighters tackling the blaze from both above and the ground. According to 6abc, fire officials reported that, thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident.
The fire, which originated in the 0-1 building on the 2000 block of Maple Avenue, was brought under control slightly over an hour after crews arrived on scene. Eyewitnesses recounted the severity of the blaze, with one resident, Jacob Milligan, telling FOX29, "I could see the smoke coming and I'm like I hope that's not my house and luckily it was not." Milligan also captured the harrowing sight of flames and smoke on his cellphone as he arrived at the complex.
While residents from five or six units were directly affected by the fire, many more find themselves without a home as the building was evacuated. "The management office sent a note to the residents that said that they got all the victims of the fire out and they got the pets out. So that is great to hear," a resident named Deb told FOX29, expressing concern for her neighbors. In the wake of the fire, the American Red Cross is providing assistance to the displaced residents, as confirmed by multiple sources.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing, with the Hatfield Township Fire Marshal's Office leading the efforts. As stated by a spokesperson with the Department of Public Safety in an interview, the fire extended from the second floor to the third and into the roof, yet all residents were able to evacuate safely. The spokesperson highlighted the gravity of the situation, with resident Raj Asopa recounting to NBC10, "I'm thinking somebody died. I opened the shades, I look out and there's a bunch of firetrucks everywhere."
