Bristol, Pa. fire displaces about 40 residents, leaves 12 units uninhabitable at Levittown Trace Apartments
A Bristol, Pennsylvania, fire left about a dozen apartments uninhabitable and about 40 residents looking for a place to stay on Wednesday.
Fire crews were called to the Levittown Trace Apartments on Ford Road near Route 413 around 5:30 a.m. and quickly got to work battling heavy fire. Flames could be seen coming from the roof of one of the buildings in the complex in videos and photos residents shared with CBS News Philadelphia.
"It was a small fire at first, then when they kept trying to put it out, the wind and stuff; it made it expand it got bigger," said Dhakiya McCleese.
Bristol Township fire officials said the fire was burning out of control when firefighters arrived, after starting on the second floor and spreading up and out to other units. The fire is now under control and firefighters have left the scene.
Chopper 3 was over a building where smoke was coming out of the heavily damaged roof.
A section of the roof has since completely collapsed.
Three firefighters were taken to hospitals. One suffered an arm injury in a partial collapse inside a unit where the fire broke out. That firefighter is expected to be treated and released. Another was treated for smoke inhalation and the third firefighter had an ankle injury, the Bristol Township Fire Rescue/Emergency Management said. A resident was also hospitalized with undisclosed injuries and officials were working to learn their condition.
"One resident jumped out a second-floor window; his fall was slowed by police officers, but he was transported to the hospital," said Bristol Township fire marshal, Kevin Dippolito.
Resident Pavitra Patel said he and other residents lost many of their belongings in the fire.
"We got our documents and everything, but money-wise, a little bit of cash, some gold burned down in the house," Patel said.
The American Red Cross is helping impacted people find shelter. Volunteers have been on site since Wednesday morning and have set up a reception center for the approximately 40 displaced people.
Firefighters have determined which unit the fire started in, and now investigators are working to learn the cause.
