A North Bergen family?s home went up in flames Saturday and threatened other nearby houses.

Thick black smoke and high flames greeted firefighters when they arrived at 27th Street about 4 p.m. Officials say the smoke was so thick that they could not see their hands in front of them. Firefighters got the blaze under control after battling the fire for several hours, but the flames spread to two other attached homes. The official investigation is ongoing into the cause of the fire.

Homeowner Yolanda Tazaras says the fire started in the basement. Tazaras expressed disbelief that the home she moved into 10 years ago was reduced to a smoldering shell of a building. Tazaras says she has nothing now.