Elderly woman hurt in East Windsor apartment building fire

EAST WINDSOR, N.J. (WPVI) -- Firefighters from several towns responded to help fight an apartment building fire in East Windsor, Mercer County Wednesday morning.

The fire broke out at approximately 6:12 a.m. Wednesday inside Building K at The Village East Apartments, located on the 600 block of Abbington Drive.

Zaire Bailey, who lived in the building, tells us, "I just seen flames so I jumped up, ran downstairs, knocked on my neighbors door and ran back upstairs and just grabbed what I could grab - jacket and some sneakers and that was it."

Arriving firefighters found four units in the building engulfed in flames.

Most were sleeping at the time and neighbors began banging on doors to warn of the fire.

Residents from neighboring buildings were evacuated as fire personnel from more than a dozen surrounding towns were called to the scene, and by 7:11 a.m. the fire went to four alarms.

By the time the fire was extinguished four units on the west side of the building were completely destroyed. Eight other apartments sustained varying degrees of smoke and water damage.

A 92-year-old resident was injured in the blaze, sustaining burns on one leg. She was transported to CentraState Hospital for treatment.

Fire officials say the flames were ignited in the bedroom of a ground floor unit and is being categorized as non-suspicious. The cause has not yet been determined due to the extent of the damage.

Vijay Chaudhary's sister was visiting and said she heard a popping sound, then saw smoke. The fire consumed his apartment. He's got no insurance and lost everything.

Chaudhary says, "My passport, I have money, like a couple thousand, it all burned out."

At least four families are now homeless as a result of the fire.

Zaire Bailey was able to save one important box that can't be replaced. "I was able to get my family pictures, which was a blessing. But other than that anything material wise. Everything is just gone."