NEWS RELEASE
October 15, 2022
Fire Investigation at Budd Building

On Saturday, October 15, 2022, at approximately 11:36am, the City of Burlington Police Department responded to the J. Frank Budd Building, located on the 200 Block of East Pearl Street for a fire alarm activation. The J. Frank Budd Building is a Senior Citizen Housing Development that has approximately 35 apartments on the property.

When firefighters first arrived, they notified Central Communications of a heavy smoke condition coming from the third floor of the building.

Responding Officers assisted with evacuating residents while firefighters investigated and narrowed the fire to one apartment on the third floor, which was extinguished within minutes.

The resident of the apartment where the fire was located was found deceased inside and one other resident was treated for a non-life-threatening injuries.

“The quick actions of the firefighters on scene working alongside our officers and other first responders, no doubt, saved lives and limited the damage to the building during this tragic incident,” said Chief John Fine.

City of Burlington Police Detectives and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office responded to the scene along with investigators from the City of Burlington, County of Burlington, and State of New Jersey Fire Marshal’s Offices. The case is open pending further investigation but it appears that foul play is not a factor in this case. Identification of the victim will not be made at this time pending notification to family.

The fire displaced approximately 25 residents, who are receiving assistance and housing from the American Red Cross, County of Burlington Department of Human Services, City of Burlington Office of Emergency Management, and Volunteers of America of Delaware Valley, who all responded to the scene. Members of the Budd Building Management and Maintenance Teams were on site assisting first responders.

A Response Team from Volunteers of America will be following up with residents on Monday to continue assistance. If you have a loved one who was displaced in the fire and needs assistance, please contact the Volunteers of America, Burlington Team, at 856-261-0371 or at our station, 609-386-0262.

Courtesy Burlington PD