JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Five firefighters have been hurt and 52 residents were displaced after a massive fire destroyed or severely damaged at least 10 row homes in Jersey City. The six alarm fire tore through a ten unit rowhouse early on the morning of April 8th, leaving dozens without a home on Easter. At 4:21 AM, Jersey City fire units were dispatched to 349 Clairmont Ave., the second unit in a row of ten attached frame dwellings with a common cockloft. Rescue 1 arrived and transmitted a working fire for smoke showing from the first floor with reports of people trapped. A second alarm was sounded quickly.
Here's video footage provided by Ed Gray, allhandsgoingtowork on YouTube, of the fire ground operations...
"That's a common void that all of the houses share ... there's no stops,'' city Fire Director Armando Roman said, "I can't remember the last time we had something this big and this much loss ... what a devastating fire. This is the kind of fire you would expect many injuries and fatalities.''
Several firefighters took to the buildings' roofs to battle the blaze, but some were nearly trapped there when the fire began to quickly spread.
The injuries suffered by the firefighters were not considered life-threatening; all were being treated at a hospital.
Battalion Chief Joseph Zieja was overcome by smoke, Firefighter Michael Quiles suffered an eye injury, Firefighter Shawn Farrell fell down stairs, Capt. Vincent Rivera injured his elbow and Capt. John Mattern suffered a burn to his left arm.
All five were released from Jersey City Medical Center by yesterday afternoon.
View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.
"This is one of the worst fires our city has seen in recent years and we know there will be an outpouring from the community to support these families," Mayor Jerramiah Healy said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to those affected by this tragic fire and we want them to know that their city is here to help and assist them in any way possible."
Officials say they believe the fire started when an extension cord in the basement of the home where the fire originated sparked and started the fire.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
