Crews responded to reports of a fire in a ground-floor unit at the building at 88 Washington Place at approximately 4 p.m. and remained on the scene for more than four hours.
The flames and columns of black smoke could be seen coming from the structure as firefighters worked to contain the blaze, according to the report.
A 53-year-old woman who occupied the unit was transported to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center with critical injuries, Fire Chief Patrick Tentacost Sr. told the newspaper.
One firefighter was reported to have broken one or more ribs while another dislocated his shoulder. Both firefighters also were taken to St. Joseph's for treatment.
Crews used a ladder truck to rescue a woman from a third-floor window and another woman was rescued from a second-floor winder. Bother sustained minor injuries.
No other injuries were reported and all residents were accounted for.
A section of the roof at the rear of the building caved in during the firefight and officials had concerns that the building was in danger of collapsing.
A portion of Route 21 North was closed so firefighters could battle the blaze from the highway’s elevated deck.
Officials are currently investigating the cause of the fire and are pursuing the possibility that a cigarette was to blame.
