The blaze was first reported around 3:32 a.m. Monday in an eight-unit building on Anderson Drive.
SALEM -- Two apartments were left uninhabitable after an early-morning fire Monday in Salem City.
The first alarm for the blaze in an eight-unit building on Anderson Drive was reported at 3:32 a.m., according to Salem City Fire Department Chief J. Fred Ayars.
When firefighters arrived, they found fire coming through the roof of one of the end apartments. As they tackled that spot, they found fire had spread to a second adjacent unit.
All of the occupants in the building were evacuated.
Those living in the six units not damaged were allowed to return to their homes, but the people who lived in the damaged units -- one person in each apartment -- had to find other places to stay.
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Ayars said the cause is still under investigation, but a portable heater of some type might be responsible.
The fire was quickly brought under control.
The complex, owned by the Salem City Housing Authority, is off Keasbey Street on the east side of Salem.
As a precaution, Atlantic City Electric crews cut power to the apartments. In all, about 50 customers in the immediate area of the complex were without electricity for a time.
No one was injured, Ayars said.
The two people whose apartments were damaged were able to find other places to stay and did not need aid, officials said.
Assisting the Salem City Fire Department were companies from Quinton and Pennsville townships. Also the American Legion Ambulance of Woodstown and Fenwick Ambulance of Salem were on the scene.
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.