Careless Cooking Caused Apartment Fire In Gloucester Twp., Resident Charged: Police

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Careless cooking caused Sunday's apartment fire in Blackwood that displaced two families, officials determined. Chase E. Hines was charged with third-degree criminal mischief after falling asleep while cooking, according to township police.

The fire ignited in Hines's kitchen and grew quickly at around 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the Hilltop Court Apartments. Fire personnel quickly evacuated residents in the "D building" of the 1302 N Black Horse Pike complex, and officials reported no injuries.

• Related article: 2 Families Displaced In Gloucester Township Apartment Fire

But the cooking error created a fire that significantly damaged two apartments, displacing two families, police said. The Gloucester Township Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross aided them with placement and other needs.

Hines was charged with a criminal summons.

Responding fire agencies included the Chews Landing Fire Department, Gloucester Twp. Squad 88, Runnemede Fire Department, Blackwood Fire Company, Blenheim Fire Co., Bellmawr Fire Department and Somerdale Fire Department.