Three firefighters injured, families displaced in Jersey City fire
A woman who lives on the bottom floor said neighbors helped one another get out safely.
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Three firefighters were injured and 13 people were displaced after an overnight apartment fire in Jersey City, according to city officials and the Red Cross.
The fire broke out around 2 a.m. Thursday at a building on Palisade Avenue between Franklin and Ravine streets as dozens of firefighters rushed to the scene, city officials said.
Flames were seen shooting through the roof, and windows were blown out as fire trucks blocked the roadway during the response.
A woman who lives on the bottom floor said neighbors helped one another escape after people began screaming in the hallway. Brenda Colon said she grabbed her children and ran from the building.
“Thanks to God we’re alive, we’re good, everybody is safe,” Colon said.
One resident was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, officials said.
The Red Cross said it is helping 13 people from four families affected by the fire and working to find them a warm place to stay.
Residents were allowed back inside briefly to gather belongings, with people seen carrying bags and suitcases in the cold.
Firefighters worked amid mounds of snow and ice still covering the streets. City officials said a captain and one firefighter slipped and fell, and another firefighter suffered burns to the wrist.
City officials said crews were able to access nearby fire hydrants, though some hoses froze and areas became slick as water iced over.
Water damage was visible throughout the building, with charred debris on the top floor and damage reported across all four floors.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
