Firefighters battle frigid temperatures, 3-alarm blaze in Jersey City

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (WABC) -- A wind-whipped, three-alarm fire burned through a house in Jersey City Thursday morning, and firefighters had to battle the harsh conditions in addition to the flames.

The fire burned through the rear of the two-story home on Washburn Street just after 12:30 a.m., with flames fully engulfing the second floor.

Heavy winds spread the flames and threatened neighboring structures as firefighters fought the fire from outside.

While battling hot spots, they also battled the wind, cold and icing conditions.

"It's crazy," Jersey City Fire Chief Darren Rivers said. "Hardest thing about the cold is when you get wet, the water freezes, (so) it makes it hard to get around."

Officials say that getting the hoses rolled back up was virtually impossible, as they were frozen solid. The street was also as slippery as an ice rink, with nearby cars encased in ice.

At least four residents were able to escape without injuries.

The fire leaves more than a dozen residents homeless.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.