Fire forces evacuation of apartment tower

70 people moved to municipal complex after Friday night fire at Claremont Towers

By: John Patten

Staff photos by John Patten

   70 residents of Claremont Towers Apartments slept in the municipal
building Friday, after a late-night fire at 574 Auten Rd. forced the evacuation
of the seven-story building. Two minor injuries were reported.
   According to Hillsborough police, the fire broke out in Apartment
3-G, home of the family of Andrew Senoo at about 11:48 p.m. Responding police
officers reported discovering the entire apartment engulfed in flames, and began
evacuating the building.
   Firefighters from Hillsborough, Montgomery and Somerville fire
companies responded, as well as several area rescue squads. The fire was extinguished,
but not before destroying the contents of the Senoo’s home. Smoke and water caused
substantial damage to several other units in the building, also.

Staff photos by John Patten

Andrew Senoo looks at the damage to his apartment caused by the fire.

   The evacuated families were taken to the Hillsborough Municipal
Complex, where the American Red Cross and the Hillsborough Township Social Services
Department set up cots and tables for the families.
   "You start out the new year and hope for the best and then something
like this happens," Mr. Senoo said Saturday morning as he stood outside the building,
staring sadly at his apartment through the broken front window. He noted his two
children – ages 5 and 6 – were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation, but were
released.
   Mr. Senoo said the Red Cross has provided his family with two
nights’ stay at the Hillsborough Days Inn while they make plans for their future,
which may include moving in with a cousin who rents an apartment in one of the
towers across Auten Road.
   However, he added he probably lost everything in the fire but
won’t know until he can get back into the apartment.
   Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire yet.