Woman critically injured in fall from fifth floor during Pennsauken apartment fire

A woman was critically injured early Monday when she fell from the fifth floor of a burning apartment building in Pennsauken, New Jersey, according to reports from 6abc Action News and CBS Philadelphia.

Firefighters were sent to the Cooper River Apartments on McClellan Avenue at about 2 a.m., Pennsauken Fire Department Chief Jonathan Hutton told CBS Philadelphia. Crews found fire in a fifth-floor unit. 6abc described the complex as a 14-story high-rise and said heavy smoke was coming from an apartment at the rear of the building.

The outlets described the woman's fall somewhat differently. Hutton told CBS Philadelphia that a resident jumped from the fifth floor before firefighters arrived. 6abc reported that the woman was seen hanging from a window and that, according to officials, she let go and fell to the parking lot before rescuers could reach her.

Resident Dillion Rizzo told CBS Philadelphia that the woman struck a vehicle below. "She jumped out and hit a car in a handicap spot right there," Rizzo said, adding that she was moving when she was carried away on a stretcher.

6abc reported that she was taken to Cooper Hospital in critical condition. CBS Philadelphia said she was taken to a local hospital and that it was seeking information on her condition.

According to 6abc, a second alarm was called soon after crews arrived, bringing in help from nearby fire departments, and a third alarm was added nearly an hour into the fight because of the fire's intensity. CBS Philadelphia described it as a three-alarm fire.

Officials told 6abc that two residents who use wheelchairs called 911 from the ninth floor, saying smoke was filling their apartment and they could not get out. Firefighters rescued them, and neither was hurt, according to officials.

Hutton told CBS Philadelphia that about 20 apartments housing roughly 40 people were evacuated. 6abc reported that most residents had to leave the building, while some on upper floors were instructed to stay in place. A neighbor told 6abc the stairwell was very smoky as he left, and that once outside he brought blankets from his car for other residents.

The fire was later brought under control, 6abc reported. By 6 a.m., most residents were being allowed back into their homes, with the exception of those living on the fifth floor, according to CBS Philadelphia.

The cause of the fire had not been released, according to both outlets.

Compiled by True News from reporting by CBS Philadelphia and 6abc Action News. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/468