Officials: 16 students escape house fire near Rutgers campus in New Brunswick
Fire Chief William Borke says that the students were able to get out safely, taking in part to working smoke detectors.
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Officials say that 16 Rutgers University students escaped a Friday morning house fire in New Brunswick.
The fire was on Huntington Street just off College Avenue. Video taken by Drone 12 shows that the roof collapsed on a portion of the building, which houses four student apartments.
Fire Chief William Borke says that the students were able to get out safely, taking in part to working smoke detectors.
“It was pretty involved a while prior to arrival. Usually, we get reports a lot sooner on a fire, but this was probably burning for a little while before,” Borke says. “Actually, they realize there was a fire upstairs. Sometimes when it's in the attic, it's working up there, it takes a while for the smoke the bank down to the second floor and activate the detectors."
He added that while it is believed that the fire started in the attic, a full investigation will determine where exactly it started.
A spokesperson for Rutgers says that the students have been provided shelter at the university. The spokesperson says the house is privately owned and not affiliated with the school.
It was not clear how the fire began. No injuries were reported.
