5 N.J. cops, firefighter injured in fire that destroyed 16 apartments

Five police officers and a firefighter were injured in a large fire that gutted a 16-unit apartment complex in Camden County on Tuesday night, authorities said.

Twenty-six people from 13 families were left temporarily homeless by the three-alarm fire at the Mansion Apartments on West Branch Avenue, the New Jersey Red Cross said.

Five police officers and and a firefighter were hospitalized with smoke inhalation, Pine Hill police chief Christopher Winters said in an on-camera interview with 6abc.com . No residents were hurt, Winters said.

The fire, which broke out on a second-floor balcony at about 6 p.m., was brought under control at about 8:20 p.m. the chief added.

The Red Cross said it is providing temporary lodging, food, clothing.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Pine Hill police couldn't immediately be reached Wednesday.

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