A fire tore through a vacant building in Jersey City early Thursday morning, spreading to neighboring structures and leaving at least six firefighters injured and multiple residents displaced.
The three-alarm blaze broke out around 1:30 a.m. on Fourth Street near Monmouth Street. The fire gutted the original building, which was reportedly slated for demolition in the coming days, before jumping to homes on either side.
Crews battled heavy flames for hours as parts of the structures collapsed. Video showed charred debris and smoldering rubble by daybreak. Drivers miles away exiting the Lincoln Tunnel could see the flames when firefighters first arrived, Jersey City Fire Chief Jack Johnson said.
Six firefighters were taken to Jersey City Medical Center with injuries mostly related to smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, according to the local firefighters union.
The Jersey City Office of Emergency Management said the vacant properties may have been occupied illegally before the fire. Officials said the property owner could face citations if people were found living there unlawfully.
Firefighters remained on scene Thursday morning to knock down hot spots and secure what was left of the buildings. The Red Cross is helping at least eight people from nearby residences who were forced from their homes.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.