1 person dies in massive Burlington County house fire: officials

WESTAMPTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Flames shot out into the night, creating havoc and a scary scene on a street in Burlington County Saturday, while, sadly, claiming one life.

Firefighters worked against what officials called "extreme" hoarding conditions while they battled the massive blaze at a home in Westampton Township, officials said.

The fire broke out around 6:30 Saturday evening, on the 500 block of East Pennington Drive.

Crews arrived and were met by heavy flames. A 2-alarm was called within 10 minutes of firefighters arrival.

Officials say a neighbor across the street called 911 after smelling smoke and seeing active flames coming from the house.

 Dozens of fire trucks and emergency vehicles from multiple agencies responded. Many people who live in the area stood by watching in disbelief as firefighters battled the flames.

Chief Brian Ferguson, with the Westampton Fire Department, explained firefighters had a difficult time getting through the front door due to the hoarding conditions inside the home.

Crews will be on scene throughout most of the night working to put out hot spots. The Burlington County Fire Marshal will determine the cause of the fire.

There were no details regarding the deceased person's identity.