19 people displaced after flames tear through 3 homes in Jersey City
JERSEY CITY (WABC) -- At least 19 people were displaced when a fire tore through a row of homes in Jersey City Wednesday.
Flames broke out just after 10 a.m. at a building on Olean Avenue and spread to two adjacent buildings on either side before firefighters arrived.
A resident said he was taking a shower when he heard people screaming outside.
"Out of nowhere I started smelling smoke, so I opened up the door and the black smoke hit me. So, I took a duck down and all I started feeling was heat. I'm running out of my apartment and I'll I'm thinking about is, 'where's my dog?'" he said.
It took firefighters a little more than two hours to get the fire under control.
The Red Cross was called to assist the displaced residents and officials said no one was injured.
Officials said two of the homes were destroyed in the blaze and will need to be demolished.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Both the fire victims and eyewitnesses say there was roofing work being done before the fire broke out.
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
