Firefighters from Gap and Christiana helped Chester County crews battle a fire that engulfed a Coatesville apartment house early Friday morning.
Seven firefighters were injured and 15 families left homeless.
No local emergency responders were among those hurt.
"All that stuff took place before we got there," said Gap Fire Chief Troy Wenger, speaking about the injuries.
The 12:49 a.m. blaze ravaged the 28-unit building at 1814 Saginaw Drive in Coatesville's Millview development.
Gap fire crews got there around 1:30 a.m. and found the firefighting effort was being done with large-diameter hoses from the outside.
"Everything was exterior when we got there," Wenger said. "There was a lot of heavy fire on the third floor, and the response was all master streams from the outside."
Christiana Fire Company was sent in and remained on standby.
"Christiana set up an 'LZ' to land a helicopter in case they needed it," Wenger said.
Injuries to the seven firefighters ranged from burns to broken legs to smoke inhalation, according to a press release from the Coatesville City Fire Department. They were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
In all, more than 100 firefighters battled the blaze, which was brought under control around 2 a.m.
The families left homeless by the fire are being helped by the American Red Cross.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Coatesville City Police Department, the Chester County Fire Marshal Office and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal.
No estimate of damage was available.
