Firefighters in Perth Amboy were faced with a daunting challenge as they battled a fire that spread across buildings in Sunday?s extreme heat.

The fire raged on Fayette Street and all tenants escaped without injury.

Chief Larry Cattano, of the Perth Amboy Fire Department, says firefighters fought the fire in spurts of five to 15 minutes as crews alternated continuously. Cattano says under normal circumstances the department could've fought the fires with about 60 firefighters, but because of the heat they needed almost 100.

?Tremendous conditions just being outside alone - and just being exposed to heat on the street is enough, let alone going into a fire with 100 pounds of turnout gear on,? Cattano says. ?It just overheats the firefighters almost immediately.?

Firefighter John Kelly says the 92-degree heat and humid weather forced him to take a break after just 15 minutes in one of the burning buildings.

"The worst I've ever been in,? Kelly says.