A large fire has destroyed three homes in Jersey City and displaced nearly 20 people.

The fire tore through three multifamily homes on Olean Avenue just after 10 a.m. Wednesday.

“It went from one house to two house, to three houses destroyed, completely destroyed. We just lost everything,” says displaced resident Oscar Ruiz.

Ruiz says he had to rush out of his home as the fire grew. He says he just got done bathing.

“I’m asking everyone, ‘Where is my pit bull?’ And looking over here and my pit bull is running down the block. So we’re now chasing my pit bull five blocks, and I’m naked in a towel,” Ruiz says.

Ruiz was reunited with his dog. He and 18 other people receive immediate help and financial assistance from the American Red Cross after the fire was put out.

“The Red Cross is important in that long-lasting part, when it comes to casework is to help the families get pointed in the right direction, who’s gonna help them with their recovery,” says Muraad Abdus-Salaam, disaster program manager at the Red Cross.

No one was hurt.

Ruiz says that there were some workers on his roof earlier in the day. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters were expected to remain in the area for the rest of the day to monitor potential hot spots. A city engineer will also assess the structural stability of the homes.