One person died and five other people were injured as a result of a massive fire that broke out in the early hours of Nov. 1 at Gloucester Township’s Autumn Ridge Apartments on Little Gloucester Road in Blackwood.
Township police were dispatched at approximately 2:14 a.m. after a report of flames at the apartment complex’s C Building. Officers found heavy smoke and immediately began evacuating residents.
Firefighters from Deptford, Winslow, Washington Township, Lindenwold, Pine Hill, Laurel Springs and Magnolia helped bring the blaze under control by 6:19 a.m. One resident died of her injuries several days later and a firefighter suffered minor burns. The other injured residents remain in stable condition as of deadline.
Authorities have withheld the identities of residents pending notification of families. The fire’s cause has yet to be determined.
The Camden County Fire Marshal’s Office, along with the state marshal, local fire departments and fire investigators, are continuing their probe. While the blaze was deemed non-suspicious, the investigation remains active in coordination with township police.
Management at Autumn Ridge Apartments’ management confirmed that the C Building – with its approximately 40 apartments and more than 100 residents – has been declared uninhabitable. Displaced residents are receiving assistance from the Gloucester Township Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross and the apartment complex itself.
Police are asking anyone with information on the fire to come forward. Tips can be submitted by calling (856) 228-4500, through the GTPD Online Tip Portal at https://gtpolice.com/tips, via the Anonymous Tip Line at (856) 842-5560, or by texting “TIPGLOTWPPD,” followed by a message to 888777.
