The Arctic blast made it especially difficult for firefighters in Sea Bright, New Jersey Monday.
They spent hours fighting fierce flames at a two-story condo complex. Thirty-two units were destroyed, leaving dozens are homeless.
The fire broke out at 1340 Ocean Avenue.
New Jersey reporter Anthony Johnson has the latest.
The flames, which rapidly spread through the two-story condo complex, were no match for the whipping winds and brutal cold that hampered firefighting efforts.
"It was a big fire to start with," a fireman said. "So the freezing cold and the wind didn't help things at all."
In these conditions, where the temperatures feel like they're below zero, any water quickly turns to ice. The walks were better suited for skating than fighting a fire. Trees were bent over from the weight of the ice. The burned out building looked like an icy shell or frozen tundra, and this just complicated efforts to knock down the blaze, which apparently began in an apartment in the back of the building and quickly engulfed the entire structure.
"It was rough moving after awhile," a firefighter said. "It was rough."
In the effort to escape, residents ran out in their pajamas.
"In a few seconds we were engulfed in black smoke," one resident said.
Several animals were brought out to safety. Sarah says her sister may have been saved by a cat, who's now missing.
"She jumped on her head to wake her up," Sarah said. "We think that's what happened, and then she heard the screaming from her neighbor."
Emergency officials were on the scene, providing food and offering shelter for the residents of the more than 30 apartment units which were either destroyed or badly damaged from the water used to battle the blaze.
"It's devastating to the entire community," one resident said. "Because we are such a small community and a close-knit community."
The most severely injured victim was hospitalized with burns over the majority of her body. One firefighter also suffered minor injuries.
Copyright 2007 by WABC-TV.
Republished with permission of WABC-TV.