Crime & Safety

Moorestown Couple Unharmed After Fire Rips Through Home

Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control within minutes, but not before it caused severe damage to the North Washington Avenue home.

A Moorestown couple was displaced after a basement fire ripped through their North Washington Avenue home Saturday afternoon.

Lenola Fire Chief Robert Grant said when firefighters arrived on the scene just before 2 p.m. there was heavy smoke pouring out of the first floor windows.

Crews moved in to track down the source of the fire—which reportedly started in the basement, Grant said—but had to pull back after the first floor actually buckled and dropped about 6 inches due to damage from the flames. 

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"They said the floor got spongy and dropped ... which is a concern," he said. "It doesn't happen often. With basement fires, it could happen."

Firefighters were able to continue fighting the blaze from outside, he said, and had it mostly knocked down within 10 to 15 minutes. The fire never reached the second floor or attic.

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Unfortunately, the damage to the basement and first floor was extensive enough that the home is currently unlivable, Grant said. 

Homeowners Ray and Neva Razek, who live alone in the home, were able to escape unharmed, according to a neighbor.

Grant said the fire marshal was in the process of investigating the cause of the blaze Saturday afternoon.

No further information was available at press time.

In addition to Moorestown firefighters, crews from Maple Shade, Willingboro, Masonville and Delran responded to the scene. 

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