Photo by James Short.
Update, 7:30 p.m.: Multiple residents are displaced Thursday night following an apartment fire in the Q building at Hatfield Village Apartments that police said spread quickly through multiple units.
"Crews arrived to find heavy fire conditions and worked aggressively to contain the blaze and prevent further spread," Hatfield Police said in an announcement Thursday night. "The fire was placed under control approximately 70 minutes from dispatch."
There were no injuries. Any loss of animals is unknown at this time.
"The American Red Cross is on scene providing shelter, assistance, and resources to those unable to return to their homes," police said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Hatfield Township Fire Marshal Mike Waldron, police said.
Poppy's Tavern in Hatfield Borough, open until midnight, has offered a solace for displaced residents to regroup and eat a free meal.
Original story below:
A three-alarm fire broke out at an apartment at Hatfield Village Apartments in Hatfield Thursday afternoon, calling for more than 20 first responders from Montgomery and Bucks counties.
According to Montgomery County emergency dispatch reports, an apartment beginning with "Q" was reported as fully engulfed, with a resident attempting to locate a cat.
A 911 call came in at around 2 p.m. for a report of a building fire at 2508 Maple Avenue, Apartment Q-18, near Bennetts Court as a cross street. The caller informed authorities they were trying to get people out of the apartment building.
By James Short 
(Credit: First Source News)
By James Short First responders are reporting heavy fire through the roof of the building and heavy smoke.
Firefighters made a trench cut in the roof to help stop the horizontal spread of the fire, often employed in large apartment building fires with specific structural layouts.
Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke from the second floor, before the fire began affecting third floor, attic areas and the roof, according to reports.
Hatfield Volunteer Fire is being assisted by North Penn Vol Fire Co., Colmar Fire Co., Upper Gwynedd Fire, Fairmount Fire Co., Perseverance Fire Co. of Souderton, Towamencin Vol Fire Co., Fire Department of Montgomery Township, Harleysville Fire Co., Horsham Fire Co., Skippack Fire Co., VMSC Emergency Medical Services, Colmar Fire Co., Telford Fire Co., Limerick Fire Department, Worcester Fire Co., Tylersport Fire Co., and West End Fire Co., Silverdale Fire Co., Sellersville Fire Co., Fort Washington Fire Co., Chalfont Fire Co., and Hilltown Township Fire Co. in Bucks County.
The American Red Cross has a team of disaster workers on the scene and they are currently assessing the needs of displaced residents at a reception center located in the complex's Community Room.
Hatfield Village is accessible via School Road as well.
There are no reported injuries. All residents were evacuated.
Hatfield Village is managed by Jenkintown-based property management firm Scully Company.
Stay tuned for updates.
