Fire Destroys Maple Shade Apts.

About 50 people were homeless Monday after a fire destroyed an apartment building. The blaze began on the roof of Building H at the Village of Stoney Run around 2:30 p.m., said Maple Shade Fire Chief Cliff Leary.

There were no injuries, but Leary told the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill that about 20 of the apartment's 30 units were destroyed and he expected the building to be condemned.

The management at Stoney Run was working with the American Red Cross to help residents find temporary homes.

More than 100 firefighters from the region helped fight the fire, which was fueled by heavy winds. It took firefighters about two and a half hours to bring the fire under control.

The Burlington County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating, but property manager Pat Gotta said workers rubberizing the roof may have been responsible.

The fire is the sixth major blaze at the apartment complex. In 1995, a fire left 91 people homeless and destroyed about 30 units. In 1996, another fire destroyed 11 apartments and displaced 20 people.

The complex was constructed in 1974, before current fire codes were in place.

Author: 6 ABC-AP