A fast-moving fire broke out Friday evening at the Hurley Crossing apartment complex on Hurley Avenue, likely sparked by improperly discarded smoking materials, according to Fire Chief Chris Rea.
The blaze, reported just after 6pm on April 18, scorched the building’s vinyl siding and climbed as high as the second floor — but thanks to quick action by firefighters, it was knocked down before it could breach the interior or cause major structural damage.
One first-floor unit sustained minor smoke exposure and a shattered window from the heat, but no one was injured. All residents of the complex at 163 Hurley Ave. were able to return to their apartments that evening.
Officials say the fire started on the building’s exterior and was spotted quickly, likely because it happened during daylight hours. Had it burned just a few minutes longer, it might have reached the attic—an area without sprinklers — raising the risk of a far more dangerous situation.