Fire was ‘not electrical and not suspicious.’
By: Gwen Runkle
WEST WINDSOR The early-morning fire that left 13 families homeless Monday at the Avalon Watch apartment complex on Clarksville Road started in a couch in a second-floor unit, according to Jim Yates, township director of emergency services.
He declined to say what exactly ignited the couch, but said, "It was not electrical and was not suspicious."
He also said the residents of the apartment where the fire started were smokers.
The fire, reported at 1:45 a.m., destroyed four apartments at the south end of the three-story, 20-unit building. Due to structural instability, the entire section of six apartments will have to be torn down, township officials said.
About 75 firefighters from 12 companies battled the fire until it was extinguished around 4 a.m.
No injuries were reported among residents or rescue personnel.
The building’s smoke-alarm system functioned properly, enabling most of the residents to get out of the building before police and fire units arrived, but police officers Frank Bal, Peter Hanna and Matt Kemp did enter the burning building upon arrival, woke up several residents and helped them get out.
The sheetrock fire separation walls also worked properly and prevented the fire from spreading to other sections of the apartment building, said Tom Millar, director of the township’s Building Department.
Dirk Herrman, chief financial officer for Avalon Bay communities, said the company plans to rebuild the six burned apartment units and will be making repairs to the others damaged by water and smoke.
"A total of six apartments were totally destroyed by the fire and will have to be rebuilt. But in about four weeks, residents will be able to move back into 10 apartments that were only damaged by smoke," he said.
In the meantime, the company has relocated all of the displaced residents, with the exception of one person who decided to break his lease, Mr. Herrman said.
"Everyone has been accommodated in two other Avalon Bay communities, Avalon Run and Avalon Run East (both) in Lawrence, and everyone seems satisfied," he said.
"These apartments are slightly more expensive, but we’re not charging the higher rate," Mr. Herrman said. "The residents will be able to complete their leases at comparable rates, with the exception of two people who have chosen to upgrade."
The Red Cross of Central New Jersey also has been helping by providing food and clothing.