Residents affected by a five-alarm fire in Passaic over the weekend say they are lucky no one was seriously hurt.

Dozens of people are now displaced and a popular neighborhood church was destroyed after a fire broke out on Colombia Avenue Sunday night.

Fire officials believe the fire started in an alley next to the Word of God Church and spread to a three-story apartment building.

Mirnia Cruz, who lives behind the church, says the fire quickly got out of hand.

Homes on Columbia Avenue and nearby Ann Street were evacuated as a precaution as the fire spread. Most of the surrounding homes suffered minor damage.

More than 30 residents will be looking for new homes due to damage caused by the fire. The American Red Cross is helping seven families displaced by the fire. Parishioners of the church are hoping the community will help them to rebuild. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Passaic Fire Department does not believe it to be suspicious.