Officials: 3 homes torn down following fast-moving fire in Bayonne; 20+ displaced
There were no injuries. Three houses along West 11th Street were demolished Saturday afternoon.
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Nearly two dozen people were displaced by a four-alarm fire that broke out just after 10:30 p.m. Friday in Bayonne.
There were no injuries. Three houses along West 11th Street were demolished Saturday afternoon.
Neighbors said the heat and smell was intense from several houses down the block. The utility pole in front of the homes even started sparking.
“I respond on all fires in the city, and I’ve never seen a fire [advance] that quickly on arrival,” said Junior Ferrante from the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management.
There is no official word on the cause, but Fire Chief Keith Weaver said it does not appear to be suspicious.
In addition to the three houses being torn down, officials also evacuated residents from the two neighboring homes during the demolition.
Fire crews fought the four-alarm fire for more than four hours.
Weaver called the rapid spread “an outlier” among other fires in the city.
Officials added that firefighters couldn’t enter the building to retrieve anyone’s belongings.
The city and the Red Cross are assisting the more than 20 displaced residents.
