Five people suffered injuries in a fire at an apartment complex in Delaware County that displaced 35 people, fire officials said.
A 23-year-old woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition and being treated for smoke inhalation after the fire roared through Merion Trace Apartments in Upper Darby.
Aaron Carter, 20, was listed in guarded condition and his 4-week-old infant, Nymair Carter, was being treated at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. His condition was not released.
"I jumped up and I looked out and I saw flames coming from that apartment," said Agatha Smith, pointing. "I mean the flames were really coming out thick, heavy."
The fire and smoke were so intense that many residents were trapped and stranded on balconies.
"They just told us to wait. Guys were trying to jump, but they told everybody to wait and they came with ladders, hooked them up. The first ladder came up to my balcony," said resident Moses Dixon.
Investigators said between 40 and 50 people were brought down by ladder or helped out of the building by firefighters. Others made it out by themselves.
"When I came out, I just put my jacket over my face, closed my eyes and felt my way to come down the steps, " said resident Crystal Acworth.
As many as 35 people were displaced by the fire that officials said started in Kparteh Dixon's third-floor apartment.
"My girlfriend just woke me up, and we saw the blaze of fire was around my entertainment center and managed to get out and banged on doors," he said.
For the residents of building 'B,' this all looked just a little too familiar.
"Everybody's stunned because this just happened in January, and now we're out here again," Acworth said.
"I'm just tired. I'm just tired of this -- second fire in three months," said resident Rhonda Parker.
