Cliffside Park fire rescue: Police use neighbor's ladder to save 3 from room

CLIFFSIDE PARK (WABC) -- A trio of police officers from New Jersey is being praised as heroes after they rescued three people from the roof of a burning home.

Officers arrived on the scene just before 7 a.m. Monday to find three people standing near the driveway of the house on Lafayette Avenue near Palisades Avenue in Cliffside Park, then they looked up and saw a man and a couple on the roof.

Acting Mayor Thomas Calabrese said the officers got a ladder from a neighbor and went on the roof to rescue the victims.

"The quick action and bravery of the officers made it possible that this large-scale fire resulted in no injuries," he said. "On behalf of the borough, I want to commend the three police officers, the Cliffside Park Fire Department and the other local fire departments that helped in putting out this fire."

The flames took about 90 minutes to get under control, and six people were treated for smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, though it is believed to have started with a candle being accidentally knocked over.