Fire Damages Orchard Court Apartment

A fire broke out around 8:30 p.m. Friday evening at an apartment in the Orchard Court complex in Upper Providence Township. 

Royersford Fire Chief Gary Wezel told Patch that when fire crews arrived, there was heavy smoke coming from the roof and attic area of 84 Orchard Court. When firefighters entered the building, the crackling of flames was audible from the attic. 

A resident was overheard telling neighbors that "the bathroom fan just blew up."

The apartment is the center apartment in a row of five apartments. The two apartments on either side were filled with smoke but did not suffer fire damage. 

The fire was contained to the attic of 84 Orchard Court. Wezel said that the attic was full of the residents' belongings. Firefighters were forced to cut an opening in the roof in order to fight the fire. 

Wezel said he believes five residents are displaced. At least one cat was rescued from the apartment. A Facebook commenter who said she is the mother of one of the residents wrote that three other cats are still missing. 

Multiple fire companies, including crews from Royersford Fire Co., Linfield Fire Co., Liberty Fire Co., Phoenixville Fire Co., Trappe Fire Co., Black Rock Fire Co., Upper Providence Township Fire and Emergency Services, and Skippack Fire Co. were on scene, as well as emergency medical crews from Friendship Ambulance.

Upper Providence Fire Marshal Joshua Overholtz is investigating the cause of the fire.