Blaze Destroys North Wildwood Apartments; Seven Left Homeless

NORTH WILDWOOD —An early morning fire left seven people homeless and destroyed three apartments in the 100 block of West 24th Avenue.
According to Capt. Robert Caruso, dispatchers received a call at 5:54 a.m. Thur., March 29. Due to their close proximity to the scene, police were able to help several residents escape prior to the arrival of fire companies.
Minutes later, firefighters arrived at the scene and found heavy fire showing from the front and left side of the building, said North Wildwood Fire Chief Jeffrey Cole, Sr.
“The main residence, in the front, was totally destroyed,” Cole told the Herald. “The rear apartment was dam-aged by smoke and water, and the second floor apartment was damaged by fire, smoke and water. The fire extended up into the second floor.”
While three apartments in the main structure of the property were destroyed, Cole said the fire did not affect a bungalow-like building in the rear of the property.
Seven residents of the apartments, including two children, found their way to safety.
“A gentleman in the rear apartment was treated for minor smoke inhalation on the scene,” said Cole. “He had tried to arouse the occupant in the front.”
Matt Maxwell, the resident of the front apartment, is a Red Cross volunteer. He was not at home when the fire broke out because he was assisting with the aftermath of a fire in Villas.
According to Cole, the male resident of the rear apartment heard smoke detectors sounding and was able to help his two children escape their apartment. The man then went to the door of Maxwell’s apartment to rouse him.
Maxwell returned home from the Villas fire to find his neighbor knocking on his door.
“He (Maxwell) tried to get into his apartment to get the fire extinguisher,” said Cole, “and was met with flames when he opened the door.”
“It was knocked down quick, within 15 minutes,” said Cole, adding the fire was brought under control in a half hour.
Firefighters were not injured; however one firefighter experienced a near miss. Cole’s 19-year-old son Anthony, fell through a hole on the first floor. “He self-extricated,” said his father, noting that the younger Cole was not injured.
An investigation to the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Cape May County Fire Marshall’s Office. While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, the cause has been ruled accidental.
Firefighters from North Wildwood and Wildwood fire companies responded, along with members of the city’s police department, Cape May County Fire Marshall and American Red Cross. Members of the Wildwood Crest fire department were on standby.