Discarded Cigarette May Have Caused Avenel Apartment Complex Fire

AVENEL, NJ — A total of 32 people from 11 families are currently homeless after a massive condo fire broke out in Avenel early Sunday morning.

And Woodbridge fire officials say "it could have been much worse" if a woman passing by hadn't run from unit to unit, knocking on doors and waking residents up.

The fire broke out at 4:12 a.m. Sunday, when most residents were fast asleep, in the Colonial Gardens apartment complex off Woodbine Avenue in Avenel. Specifically, Building #38 caught fire, said Avenel Fire Official Cory Spillar.

A woman who lives in Woodbridge Village, another apartment complex nearby, told police she was walking home from a convenience store when she first saw the flames. She ran from unit to unit, banging on windows and front doors, screaming at people to get out of their homes as the buildings were on fire, said Spillar.

"If she hadn't stopped, reacted the way she did and alerted those occupants, we would have had to rescue people off balconies and had people jumping off balconies," said Spillar, calling the woman a hero. He said when firefighters first got on the scene the encountered "a wall of fire. You could not even see the buildings. You just saw fire."

"Thank God for the passerby that stopped and started banging on doors to wake residents up," said Spillar. "If that doesn't happen, we are talking about a much more tragic situation."

Her name has not been publicly released.

Spillar said he suspects the fire was caused by a discarded cigarette thrown on the ground near the apartments, which ignited bushes, shrubbery and the buildings. However, that is not definitive and as a precaution, an electrical origin of the fire also has to be investigated.

"The reason this fire burned so hot is because the buildings were made of vinyl siding. Vinyl siding burns like lava," he said. "The flames just spread rapidly carrying the fire right up to the roof."

A total of 12 units were very badly damaged, with six units completely demolished, he said.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Red Cross said it was providing emergency temporary lodging, food, clothing and other immediate needs to 11 families who lost their homes in the blaze, 32 people total.

"Words cannot describe the incredible job the Avenel Fire Department, Woodbridge Police Department and all of the emergency service and mutual aid providers did," said Spillar.

If you want to help those 11 families who lost their homes, you can:

• Cash (drop-off at the Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main Street or the Mayor’s Office, 1 Main Street)
• Checks (payable to the Woodbridge Community Charity Fund)
• Gift cards (any amount) from Walmart, Target, Grocery stores, etc.
• Financial contributions via VENMO @woodbridgecommunity-charityfun

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Our volunteers responded to an apt bldg #fire on Woodbine Ave in Avenel, helping 11 families (32 people) with Red Cross emergency assistance for temporary lodging, food, clothing and other immediate needs. Water, comfort kits and blankets were also provided to those affected. pic.twitter.com/Cbt5Kp5gdM
— Red Cross New Jersey (@NJRedCross) October 3, 2021