The four-alarm fire broke out at a house on Brinkerhoff Street around 2:45 a.m. and spread to two nearby homes.
One of the homes belonged to a Gulf War veteran who survived 9/11. Now his home life is up in the air.
"We're gonna see how badly damaged it is and we'll take it from there," said Greg Osborn.
More than 100 firefighters worked to stop the flames from spreading and it was a haul to get water on the burning structures.
"We have a hydrant about four or five houses west of the fire building," said Ridgefield Park Fire Department assistant chief Michael Alberque. "We had to bring water in from probably 1,000 feet."
Residents were able to get out on their own, but it looks like two of the homes will be taken down due to the extensive damage.
One Englewood firefighter and one Hackensack firefighter were taken to nearby hospitals, both with minor injuries, and a few others were checked out for smoke inhalation.
Families are rallying around the victims by gathering clothes to meet their immediate needs. A group of Ridgefield Park moms connected on social media to help displaced families.
The road to recovery will be long, but everyone said they are grateful to be alive.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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