Credit: Amanda Kuehnle/LevittownNow.com
The cause of the large fire which destroyed the B building at the Racquet Club Apartments in the Levittown section of Middletown Township does not appear to be suspicious, the lead fire investigator said Saturday afternoon.
An adult male and a teenager were hurt in the fire, along with two firefighters. The man and teenager were the apartment where investigators believe the fire started, Middletown Fire Marshal Jim McGuire told LevittownNow.com. The man was transferred to Temple University Burn Center and the teen was taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, both in stable condition on Saturday. One firefighter suffered a medical incident connected to a previous condition, and the other suffered a heat-related illness, both were treated and released by sunrise Saturday, McGuire said.
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The fire marshal said rumors that a fire started by bacon grease are false, but he said the release of the cause is pending the end of the investigation. It was revealed Friday night that the fire did start in a second-floor unit in the B building.
Officials said the building, which has 43 first- and second-floor apartment units, is a total loss. No damage cost was released as of Saturday night.
Firefighters were called to the fire at 9:07 p.m. Friday night. The second alarm was struck just minutes after the first fire trucks arrived and reached four alarms by midnight.
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The fire was placed under control just after 1 a.m. Saturday, and all hot spots were quenched by breakfast time, McGuire said.
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Close to 200 firefighters from more than two dozen companies took part in the effort to stop the flames. Fire units from around the county and some from New Jersey responded to the scene or went in place as covers at area fire stations.
The fire quickly reached the attic of the apartment building and quickly jumped past fire walls and spread, eventually engulfing the entire U-shaped building.
McGuire said his office spend Saturday conducting the investigation at the Veterans Highway apartment complex.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
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“As of 4:30 p.m., the Red Cross has provided direct financial assistance to 15 families, 28 people in all, with more waiting and an expectation that others will need assistance in the days and possibly weeks ahead. Many families are choosing not to receive Red Cross assistance,” Red Cross spokesman Dave Schrader said.
Some of the roughly 100 displaced residents came back to the burned-out building on Saturday.
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Thousands of people watched the large building as it was devoured by flames Friday night. Following broadcast of the fire on national news sources, McGuire said their was a large amount of on-lookers at the scene Saturday morning.
No plans to demolish the building, which is owned by a New York management company, have been announced as of Saturday night.
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LevittownNow.com Publisher/Editor Jeff Bohen and reporter Amanda Kuehnle contributed to this report.
Full Coverage:
- Young Boy Springs Into Action, Saves Residents in Racquet Club Blaze
- PHOTOS & VIDEO: 4-Alarm Fire at Racquet Club Apartments
- Perspectives From the Fire at Racquet Club Apartments
- Huge Fire Placed Under Control
- UPDATED: Fire Hits Racquet Club Apartments
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