While firefighters fought against an increasingly stubborn blaze last night at the Racquet Club Apartments, LevittownNow walked around the complex getting different perspectives at the scene of the fire, which displaced close to 100 residents, according to American Red Cross officials.
“I smelled the smoke and suddenly there was pounding on my door,” Paula Klonica said, “screaming, ‘get out, get out, get out, get out now!,’” as Friday nights blaze at the apartment complex tore through building B.
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Klonica with hundreds of others living at the complex, spilled out on to the now water-soaked asphalt seeking safety and refuge as red-orange flames illuminated the sky while swallowing up the roof while firefighters fought for control of the four-alarm fire.
Residents lined an outer perimeter forming a square as “well over 160 firefighters” battled the blaze, Fire Marshal Jim McGuire said.
Couple Ernie and Margraet B., residents who live in the A building just across from where the blaze festered, said arriving police and fire officials and other residents were quickly going door to door knocking and telling people to get out as renters scrambled to take what they could before life memories were turned to soot and ash.
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“The fire was just faster than they were,” Margret said.
American Red Cross personnel arrived on the scene quickly setting up in the complexes management office a base to run operations out of.
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PHOTOS & VIDEO: 4-Alarm Fire at Racquet Club Apartments
Some thirty people checked in seeking help and assistance, Chief Communications Officer of American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania Dave Schrader said.
With the human square outline looking on, residents huddled against other buildings hugging the boundary of yellow tape discussing amongst themselves and loved ones reasons for the fire .
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Some stunned by the angry fire ripping through their apartments stood in catatonic silence mourning their losses.
Officials from the Red Paw Emergency Relief Team took people to the side offering services and help for pet owners.
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One official speaking with a young woman who lived in the burning building, quickly said, “We’ve accounted for all the pets so far. This woman can’t find her cat. I’m going to go talk to her now while our volunteers continue to assist.”
About two hours later, the all volunteer organization posted on their Facebook page they are seeking the owner of two parakeets who for now will be placed with emergency shelter services.
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Klonica, standing with friends and family members, tears streaming, eyeballed firefighters as they crashed through “my bedroom” turned to no one in particular and said, “what am I supposed to do now? ”
Saturday morning, in the silence after the raging fire, residents were at Snyder-Girotti Elementary in School in Bristol, where American Red Cross officials and volunteers provided support services to about eight people from the apartment complex.
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Officials expect to keep the shelter available for one more day.
