West Deptford woman dies, several injured in multi-house fire caused by explosion
WEST DEPTFORD - Tatum Street remained an active emergency scene Friday afternoon, a day after one house was flattened by an explosion and a neighboring house was charred to its studs by spreading flames.
A woman died in the early Thursday-morning explosion. Several more people — including a one-month old baby — were injured, according to West Deptford Police.
Flowered memorials were already placed on the sidewalks for the families at 1322 and 1320 Tatum Street who lost their homes Thursday, and a 54-year-old woman who West Deptford Police said lost her life to the heavy smoke and fire.
"It was like, explosion and fire all at one time," Tatum Street neighbor Allison Ferebe told the Courier-Post Friday.
Her 8-year-old stepson saw the heavy smoke coming billowing from between the homes as fire crews arrived.
Fire investigators determined an explosion at the rear of one home ignited the heavy fire that brought the house down. Four occupants of the house were able to escape the blaze, but reported one family member remained unaccounted for. Crews were unable to locate the 54-year-old woman who died, police said.
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Her family members were treated at area hospitals, including a 57-year-old male who was airlifted to Crozier Chester Medical Center. He remains hospitalized.
A 26-year-old male, 31-year-old female, and a 1-month-old baby boy were evaluated and treated at Cooper University Hospital in Camden and released.
Three occupants were evacuated from . They were uninjured, according to police. The home still partially stood Friday, although burned to its shell.
Friday afternoon, West Deptford fire officials returned to Tatum Street. Ferebe said firefighters returned to put out fires that had restarted on the properties.
West Deptford Police are asking neighbors for video footage from the area to help determine the cause of the explosion.
This story will be updated as details become available.
Carly Q. Romalino is a Gloucester County native who's covered South Jersey since 2008. She's a Rowan University graduate and a six-time New Jersey Press Association award winner.
Romalino is based at the Courier Post and covers South Jersey schools and education issues for the Courier Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times.
She hosts NJ Press Pass, a live social media-based interview show diving into what matters to South Jersey residents.
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: West Deptford NJ: House explosion, fire kills woman
