Millbridge Fire Victims Receiving Support

While the exact cause of a destructive fire that displaced the tenants of three Millbridge Gardens apartments over the weekend likely won't be known for a few more weeks, it is clear the victims have been and will continue to be supported by complex management and the community at large.

"The bottom line is everyone is safe, and we are going to do all we can to make sure they're happy and that everyone is comfortable," Millbridge Gardens manager Puneet Khosla said Tuesday.

The fire broke out at around 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Two apartments—units 643 and 644—sustained significant fire damage, while three other occupied units and a vacant unit sustained only smoke damage, Khosla said.

The Camden County chapter of the American Red Cross aided the victims Sunday, offering them up to three nights in a local hotel, as well as emergency debit cards for food and clothing. 

It appears the fire originated in apartment 643, a second-floor unit. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by the Camden County and Chews Landing Fire Department fire marshal's offices.

Unit 644, a first-floor apartment, was occupied by a woman who lived there with her mother and 8-year-old son, neighbors said.

They have since been relocated to another apartment in Millbridge Gardens, but lost half of their belongings in the blaze, if not more, according to Khosla.

The American Red Cross hopes a family will step up to help them through the holiday season. Executive Director Camy Trinidad is hopeful a family will step up to help the now-former tenants of apartment 644 through the Camden County chapter's Children's Holiday Project. If interested, contact Marleen Stewart at 856-365-7100 ext. 229.

One neighbor suggested that a $1 contribution from fellow Millbridge residents would go a long way toward helping the fire victims better enjoy the holiday season.

"It's awful. With Christmas just around the corner, it's just awful. I feel so bad for them," the neighbor, who wished to only be identified as "Marge," said.

On Monday, the Millbridge Gardens management office received "calls all day" from people looking to help out fire victims, Khosla said.

Millbridge Gardens management is considering ways to handle a fundraiser for the fire victims, Khosla said. Check back with Gloucester Township Patch for an update.

"Marge" has lived at Millbridge Gardens for 22 years, and said she's never seen a fire there as bad as the one on Sunday.

"There was a tremendous amount of smoke coming from the top of the eves," she said.

The tenants of apartments 643, 644 and 645 were displaced by the fire. In addition to the single mother and her son and mother, college students living in one of the smoke-damaged apartments have already been relocated within Millbridge Gardens, Khosla said, adding the tenants of 643 had not made up their minds as of Tuesday afternoon whether they wanted to relocate within the complex.

In addition to Millbridge Gardens helping the relocated tenants move their belongings into new apartments, management has extended rental assistance to fire victims.

Camden County's American Red Cross has been especially hard hit by fires in recent weeks, according to Trinidad, who noted that in addition to the Millbridge fire victims, the Red Cross aided six displaced Bellmawr residents on Monday and responded to several Camden fires last weekend.

If you would like to support the local Red Cross chapter, please call 856-365-7100 for more information or send a check to American Red Cross, 5425 Route 70 West, Pennsauken, NJ 08109.