Massive Chester County apartment fire displaces 100 people, injures at least 7

This article originally appeared on NBC10.

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Flames jumped from unit to unit as a fire engulfed a North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania, apartment building, displacing 100 residents and leaving at least seven people, including three firefighters, hurt.

The three-alarm fire started at the Ashwood Apartments on 782 Worth Boulevard shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday. A resident told Telemundo 62’s Isabel Sanchez that the fire began in a single unit before it quickly spread.

The fire destroyed the entire roof and the building was evacuated with multiple people rescued. Witnesses said at least one person was rescued from the third floor.

“It was popping like fireworks exploding,” Oscar Brunner, a neighbor, told NBC10. “Something was fueling it.”

Breaking: Ground shots of apartment building engulfed in flames in Pottstown. ⁦@NBCPhiladelphia⁩ pic.twitter.com/dAQrSfH0pa

— Matt DeLucia (@MattDeLucia) July 31, 2020

Sherry Ruchinski, a resident in the apartment, was on the third floor watering her sister’s plants when the fire began.

“I didn’t take it seriously. I thought it would be out in minutes,” she said. “I came down five minutes later the alarm went off and a fellow was banging saying, ‘Get out. There’s a fire.'”

Ruchinski watched as her apartment went up in flames.

“That one on fire right now is my living room,” she said. “So I’m hoping the next one is my bedroom where my kids’ pictures are is okay. But I don’t think so. Not by the looks of it.”

WATCH: Footage from @SkyForce10 of a massive apartment fire in North Coventry Township. @MattDeLucia
will have the latest details tonight on NBC10 News at 11: https://t.co/MJ4v9eS17a pic.twitter.com/JDygAUxoqI

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) July 31, 2020

SkyForce10 was over the scene as huge flames and plumes of smoke rose from the building.

North Coventry Township police say in a statement that three firefighters and four residents were taken by ambulance to hospitals for injuries. At least one firefighter could be seen being taken away on a stretcher.

Fire and medical personnel from Chester, Berks, Montgomery and Delaware counties assisted the Norco Fire Company in fighting the blaze, police said.

Firefighters were eventually able to bring the flames under control. Hot spots and flames, however, continued to flare up inside the gutted structure Friday morning.

Around 100 residents in all were displaced.

Southeastern Pennsylvania American Red Cross spokesperson Sophie Kluthe said in a statement that the organization is providing temporary hotel lodging for about 15 families. Extra safety precautions were being taken due to COVID-19, Kluthe said.

Officials have not yet revealed the cause of the fire.

#BREAKING UPDATE: Firefighters continue to battle a massive three-alarm fire at the Ashwood Apartments in North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania. @MattDeLucia is headed to the scene: https://t.co/poj31veyga pic.twitter.com/dIjV0a71KL

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) July 31, 2020