2 people critical, several others hurt after fire breaks out at Edison senior living community
EDISON, New Jersey (WABC) -- Several people were injured, including two who are in critical condition, after a fire broke out at a senior center in Edison, New Jersey on Tuesday, according to officials.
Edison Mayor Sam Joshi said Edison, South Brunswick and Metuchen fire departments responded to the fire at the Inman Grove Senior Citizen Residence, a five-floor senior living community located at 1061 Inman Ave.
Firefighter say the flames started in an apartment and unfurled through an open window to the unit above.
"It shot all the way up, which caused the smoke to go outwards as well," Mayor Joshi said.
The blaze quickly reached four alarms as firefighters first worked to evacuate mobility-compromised elderly residents through the smoke, and to safety.
"It's elderly and the amount of people in here, it's chaos," said Edison Fire Department Chief Andy Toth.
NewsCopter 7 was over the scene, capturing footage of burnt out apartments, numerous busted windows and seniors being escorted to safety.
A man and woman, in the room where the fire started, were critically injured. One of them was rushed to a waiting chopper, had no vital signs at all when he left the scene, but paramedics managed to resuscitate him.
Edison officials say eight other people were treated for smoke inhalation.
"It's unfortunate people got hurt but I think everybody did a great job," Toth said.
As for the building, the entire facility has been evacuated for the night, leaving more than 200 residents displaced.
"We can't stay there tonight, and I didn't bring my cat and someone... a police officer, went up and got him for me," said displaced resident Tom Attanasio.
The American Red Cross is at the scene, and Edison Township is fronting the bill to put any displaced residents in hotels.
There's no word yet on the cause of the fire.
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