WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The people who call B'nai B'rith Senior Apartments in Wilkes-Barre home, are back.
A fire Thursday night on the second floor of the high-rise forced more than 100 residents out.
"They were really scared, but they made it, they made it," said Nancy Spaide of Wilkes-Barre.
"Everything is going to be great. For a bad situation, we should be thankful we are back here today and not next," said Raymond Novak.
Raymond Novak says he stayed at a hotel. He's lived at the high-rise on East Northampton Street for 10 years.
The American Red Cross set up a shelter at GAR Middle School in Wilkes-Barre to house those without another place to go.
The Wilkes-Barre fire chief says 22 people returned to their apartments late Friday night. Saturday morning the shelter closed and a bus brought 25 people back to the high-rise.
"You couldn't just come right back. The office manager and social worker they were going up and getting whatever we needed, very helpful everything went smooth. Yeah, you're displaced but you try to make the best of it," said Novak.
The city of Wilkes-Barre fire chief tells Newswatch16 that all residents are back in the building. The second floor remains closed, but the building officials made accommodations for those who live on that floor.
Nancy Spaide of Wilkes-Barre says her mother Joan lives on the 11th floor. She rushed to the scene when she heard about the fire.
"Horrific. I ran down, she was still upstairs, they didn't get her down so we were just waiting for them to get her down. They did get her down safe then we all went to Allied," explained Spaide.
She tells Newswatch 16 that her mother is very happy to be back home.
"She actually came home from surgery on Tuesday she broke her hip January 16th and she was over at Allied for rehab until Tuesday. I brought her home and pop, came the fire" said Spaide.
19 people were taken to the hospital after the fire. There is no word on their conditions. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.