Fire breaks out at Kresgeville apartment building

Multiple fire departments responded to an apartment building fire in Polk Township late Thursday night.

Township fire Chief Billy Tippett said firefighters were dispatched at 11:33 p.m. to 109 Scenic Drive, off Route 534 in Kresgeville.

Tippett said initially it was thought that an old mansion house hotel was on fire, but instead it turned out to be a garage in the back that was burning.

Tippett said it was the two-car garage with an apartment above it in which the second-story apartment portion “was pretty well fully involved coming out the windows.

“We went in after it and got it knocked down relatively quick, kept exposure damage to a minimum,” Tippett said.

Tippett said firefighters had the fire under control by around 12:10 a.m.

He described the damage as moderate to severe, and said the garage portion sustained water damage, while a shed was on fire and had a 1-foot burn mark on it.

Tippett said one occupant was home at the time of the incident, but managed to get out on his own. He said there were no injuries.

The fire remains under investigation. A fire marshal was expected to be on scene this morning to determine the cause.

Tippett said also assisting at the scene were the West End Volunteer Fire Company, Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company, Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 2, Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder Fire Company, which brought in two tankers, and West End Ambulance, while Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company was on standby.

“It was a quick response, aggressive attack, which helped to extinguish the fire fast and minimize the damage to surrounding buildings on the property,” he said.