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Dec. 19--NEWPORT NEWS -- Firefighters rescued four people from an apartment fire in the 500 block of Bellwood Road Sunday night.
Fire crews who arrived at the building about 11:15 p.m. saw no smoke from the outside of the building, according to a Fire Department news release. When they broke down the door from the hallway, thick smoke filled the hall and stairway.
Residents in the apartment, on the second floor, went to the windows and firefighters stretched ladders to them. The four adults were brought down the ladders by firefighters.
All four residents were evaluated by paramedics, but did not want to go to a hospital, the release says.
The fire was under control before 11:40 p.m. It was contained to an apartment on the first floor, but four were condemned. The damage was estimated at $25,000.
The cause is under investigation.
Four residents who were displaced were being helped by the American Red Cross.
