The fire ravaged eight units at the Willowbrook Apartments in North Brunswick. Watch video
NORTH BRUNSWICK -- One resident suffered minor injuries in a Tuesday morning blaze that destroyed eight units in an apartment complex, officials said.
The fire, at the Willowbrook Apartment complex, was first reported at 8:13 a.m., and more than two hours later, smoke was still billowing out of the badly damaged two-story structure. It was extinguished shortly after 10 a.m.
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North Brunswick Fire Chief Ken Graulich said eight units in the complex -- which sits in a residential neighborhood across from Sabella Park -- were destroyed. All the residents were accounted for, but one women had to be taken to the hospital after she leaped from her balcony.
The woman was on the balcony with her baby when an officer arrived, North Brunswick Mayor Francis "Mac" Womak said in an email. The officer convinced the woman to drop her baby to him and then she jumped into his arms.
Both the woman and the baby were transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure, Womak said.
Two firefighters also received minor injuries after a roof collapsed on them, Graulich said. They were both treated at the scene.
While the fire remains under investigation, Graulich said it appears the blaze originated in a first-floor apartment and spread quickly to the surrounding units. The fire was contained to Building 19 of the apartment complex.
Eight units were completely destroyed, Graulich said.
Nabilah Ismail, a resident on the second floor, said a passerby who was driving down the street saw the smoke and alerted the residents.
"Thank God for Good Samaritans," she said.
Taji-Shaya Jacobs, 19, lives across the street from where the fire occurred. She said she was outside with her younger brother at around 8:15 a.m. when she saw the smoke and flames starting to spread.
"I saw the five or six people still in there come running outside and get into their cars," Jacobs said. "... I didn't know where (the fire) was coming from, there was so much smoke."
Firefighters from North Brunswick, New Brunswick, Franklin Park, Milltown and East Brunswick all responded to the scene.
The fire is under investigation by the North Brunswick Fire Marshal's Office and North Brunswick police detectives.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.