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8-Alarm Inferno Demolishes Conshohocken Apartments

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CONSHOHOCKEN (CBS 3)

Hundreds of residents have been displaced after a massive 8-alarm fire ripped through a Montgomery County apartment complex Wednesday.

Flames broke out at the Riverwalk at Millennium luxury apartment development in the 200 block of Washington Street in Conshohocken at about 5 p.m.

Officials said the mammoth blaze began in an unoccupied building that was under construction. The building was only approximately 20-percent complete and fire protection was not yet installed.

"It was a wood frame building that was under construction," said Montgomery County Public Safety Director Tom Sullivan

The flames spread to four adjacent occupied apartment buildings, destroying two and damaging the other.

Approximately 300 firefighters worked on the huge fire for nearly six hours, at out point calling it an "all points" fire, meaning fire companies within a 20 mile radius were on-call to assist in the battle. The fire was placed under control shortly before 11:00 p.m.

Fire officials at the scene said the location of the inferno proved to be a major obstacle.

"It's very hard because it's in a congested area. We had to shut down major roadways," officials said.

Traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway was affected by the fire and service on SEPTA's R6 Regional Rail line was temporarily suspended. As of Thursday morning, service on the rail line had been restored, but trains were still operating slowly in the area.

Fortunately no major injuries were reported. Officials said 11 firefighters and at least one resident were treated for minor injuries.

The fact there was no loss of life comforted the developer, despite the incredible damage to the complex.

"I'm very grateful that everyone's safe and I want to provide homes for the people that are displaced, the rest can be taken care of in the morning," developer Brian O'Neill said.

The Red Cross arrived at the scene Wednesday evening to assist residents nearly 375 displaced by the flames. A temporary shelter was set up at the Spring Mill Fire Company.

Early estimates place the total monetary damage in the tens of millions. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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