37 displaced, 1 injured in Yeadon apartment fire

YEADON, Pa. (WPVI) -- An apartment fire left 37 people displaced and one woman hospitalized Saturday morning in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.

The fire was reported around 8:30 a.m. at the Foxcroft Terrace Apartments located in the 300 block of North Front Street.

"Come outside and there was so much smoke I went back in and got the baby," said Tiffany Nelson.

"I didn't get to grab nothing. She only had a onesie on and my other daughter didn't have shoes on. Nothing. It was just a mess," said Duana Payne.

Officials said the fire broke out in the kitchen area of an apartment on the third floor, where firefighters pulled a woman from the burning unit.

"They were met with a victim inside the front door of the apartment. Finding that victim, they immediately pulled her out of the building and brought her down to EMS crews that were waiting," said Chief Craig Jeffries, Yeadon Fire Company.

"They pulled her out. She was pitch black, covered in smoke and still in the fetal position as if she were still asleep," said Nelson.

She was taken to Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital and then transferred to Crozier-Chester Medical Center.

It took about 75 firefighters and 40 minutes to get the blaze under control, officials said.

Officials said the American Red Cross is providing food and clothing emergency assistance to 10 families.

Red Cross officials say they will also provide assistance with lodging for anyone affected who doesn't have a place to stay.

Shawna Ford, one of the displaced tenants, said she was having her five nieces and nephews over for a sleepover when the fire broke out.

"I opened the door and the smoke smacked me back into my apartment," said Ford. "So I shut the door, I told the kids to get up, grab your shoes and we came out."

While her apartment and belongings were damaged, the kids were unharmed in the incident.

A big relief for Ford and her sister, whose two children were inside.

So far, no word on what sparked the blaze, but officials say the fire is not suspicious.

Four units were damaged by the fire, officials said, but utilities were cut to the entire building so people won't be able to return home until Monday at the earliest.