Jersey City, NJ three-alarm blaze injures 7 first responders, displaces 25 residents

JERSEY CITY — A three-alarm fire on Sunday injured seven first responders and displaced over two dozen people.

News 12 New Jersey first reported that the fire broke out in Jersey City on the 600 block of Bergen Avenue at the intersection with Fairview Avenue. Someone reportedly ran to a nearby firehouse to alert firefighters to the blaze.

Jersey City spokesperson Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione told New Jersey 101.5 that the fire department responded to the blaze around 12:45 p.m.

The seven hurt first responders included police officers and firefighters, according to Wallace-Scalcione. Their injuries were mostly heat-related.

"All were released from the hospital, except for one first responder who suffered burns and has been taken to St. Barnabas Hospital," Wallace-Scalcione said.

In a video posted to social media, smoke and flames can be seen billowing above the roof of one three-story mixed-use building. Another video on youtube shows fire crews on the roof of the building and going into a deli next door that was also damaged. Both buildings were heavily damaged, according to Wallace-Scalcione.

Wallace-Scalcione said that 25 people have been displaced and that the Red Cross is providing assistance.

Jersey City Fire Chief Steven McGill told News 12 that investigators are working to find the cause of the fire.

"We know it started somewhere between the two buildings, most likely on the second floor," McGill said.

Rick Rickman is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at richard.rickman@townsquaremedia.com

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