GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – Thick smoke and flames tore through the Autumn Ridge Apartments early Saturday morning, sending residents fleeing into the cold night air.
The blaze erupted just after 2 a.m., quickly consuming part of the complex’s “C” Building on Little Gloucester Road.
By dawn, more than 100 residents had been displaced as firefighters battled the inferno for hours before declaring it under control around 6 a.m.
Key Points
- Fire broke out at Autumn Ridge Apartments around 2:14 a.m. Saturday
- Five people injured, including one firefighter; one victim remains in critical condition
- Over 100 residents displaced, receiving aid from OEM and the Red Cross
Firefighters battle through night to contain flames
Responding officers and firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke pouring from the three-story “C” Building. Crews immediately began evacuating the structure, which contains roughly forty apartments. Residents, some still in pajamas, watched as flames lit up the night sky.
Fire departments from across South Jersey—Gloucester Township, Deptford, Winslow, Washington Township, Lindenwold, Pine Hill, Laurel Springs, and Magnolia—joined forces to contain the blaze. Despite difficult conditions, the coordinated effort brought the fire under control just after sunrise.
Several injured, residents left without homes
Officials confirmed five injuries: one person in critical condition, four in stable condition, including a firefighter who sustained minor burns. Emergency medical teams from multiple agencies provided on-scene treatment and transport.
The displaced residents are being assisted by Gloucester Township’s Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross, who have arranged temporary shelter and support.
Investigators seek cause of fire
The cause remains under investigation by the Camden County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Blackwood Fire Department’s Fire Marshal, and the Gloucester Township Police Department. Authorities have not yet released details on where the fire started within the building.
Officials urge residents to check smoke alarms
In a statement, Chief Anthony Minosse and Mayor David R. Mayor emphasized the importance of functional smoke detectors and fire suppression systems. Officials noted that working alarms provide early warning, allowing residents to evacuate before conditions become deadly.