CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Firefighters and EMTs responded to a fatal house fire on Severn Avenue that claimed the life of one resident on Thursday. Two other residents escaped safely after being alerted by working smoke detectors.
Emergency crews arrived at the scene within four minutes of being dispatched and found the second floor of the home fully engulfed in flames. Despite the swift response, one occupant could not be rescued, authorities said.
The Cherry Hill Fire Department emphasized the critical role that smoke detectors played in alerting the two survivors. “Working smoke detectors save lives,” the department noted in a public safety announcement following the incident.
Ahead of the holidays, residents are urged to ensure their smoke detectors are functional and to practice home escape plans. Firefighters will visit the neighborhood this weekend to provide safety information and offer smoke detector checks.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to officials.