Officials: Large fire injures 3 firefighters, displaces more than 50 people in Passaic
Passaic city officials say the fire happened around 9 p.m. on High Street and spread to four homes.
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A large fire in Passaic Sunday night injured three firefighters and displaced dozens of people.
Passaic city officials say the fire happened around 9 p.m. on High Street and spread to four homes. Firefighters had to rescue four people from the roofs of two of the homes.
Many of the homes were badly damaged.
“I looked outside the window and I saw people telling me to get out now…the roof and basement caved in and the attic is all down. The roof is down,” said resident Nancy Caman.
Mayor Hector Lora initially said more than 50 people were displaced. Fire officials say that the residents of 3 High St. can return home, but nearly 29 other residents from 5, 7 and 9 High St. remain displaced.
Officials say that the five families displaced are being housed at Passaic Muhammad Ali School No. 23 for a time and are receiving assistance from the New Jersey American Red Cross.
Three firefighters were hospitalized due to the fire – two from heat exhaustion and one with a shoulder injury.
No civilians were hurt, but officials say that a dog died from smoke inhalation.
