Fire erupts inside abandoned bank building in Jersey City; 2 burned, 1 firefighter injured
Fire officials say they rushed to the scene on Monticello Avenue after receiving reports of people trapped inside.
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Two people were severely burned, and a firefighter was hurt after an abandoned bank in Jersey City went up in flames Friday morning.
The fire happened around 9:30 a.m. Friday at the abandoned Bergen and Lafayette Bank Branch on Monticello Avenue. Witnesses say they saw smoke coming from the inside and then jumped into action to help the people stuck inside.
A spokesperson for Jersey City Public Safety confirmed two people inside were left with severe burns, and a firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
A man named Jimmy and his friend watched what was happening from the sidewalk, called 911, and helped rescue the trapped people inside.
“Seen smoke, call the police, a guy trapped inside. Me and a friend helped him open the gate. The other one was trapped inside. He had to cut the locks, yeah it wasn't good man, I never seen nothing like that before,” said Jimmy.
The building dates to 1902, and the bank branch closed in the fall of 2012. There is no word on why or how people got inside.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
