Fire forces residents from Pemberton apartments

PEMBERTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- A fast-moving fire forced residents out of their apartments in Pemberton, New Jersey.

The blaze started after midnight Monday at the Pine Meadow apartment complex on the 100 block of West Hampton Street.

"My girlfriend was asleep, I just hear sirens. I look out the window, I just see flames everywhere," resident Ira Jackson said.

"People were screaming and I came out on the balcony, you can could the flames just shooting up and the wind was blowing," resident Doris Kennedy said.

Everyone in the complex was able to make it out safe.

The damage spread into the nearby units.

The apartment engulfed in flames was unoccupied.

However, eight families totaling 25 people are temporarily homeless.

In one of the units near where the fire started the roof is caved in and debris has fallen all around the kitchen. Next-door, in one of the children's rooms, the roof caved in as well with debris falling all over the toys and clothes.

Neighbors say Pine Meadow management has been very cooperative.

A restoration company was on the scene to begin the rebuilding process.

Action News is told management has put some residents in other apartments for now.

Those we spoke with say they can wait for repairs, they're just happy no one was hurt.

"It was pretty wild. They got on top and with hatchets they were breaking in, trying to control fire. It was just amazing and scary," Kennedy said.

The Red Cross is assisting the 25 people displaced by the fire.