ELIZABETH, N.J. -- Firefighters, demolition crews and police remained on the scene of a raging five-alarm fire in Elizabeth, New Jersey nearly 12 hours after it started Tuesday night.
Officials say firefighters from nine companies fought the blaze in three residential buildings on Monroe Avenue near Fairmount Ave. More than a dozen families were left homeless with many losing all of their possessions.
A fire official on the scene told PIX 11 two people suffered burns trying to put out the fire and two firefighters were also burned. At least four residents suffered smoke inhalation and one firefighter was taken to Trinitas Hospital with a shoulder injury.
The heavy smoke hung in the air forcing residents to try and cover their faces and mouths while first responders donned masks.
Mayra Mercado who lives down the street from the fire told PIX 11 News, "The heaviest fire was in the back, shooting all the way to the roof, and the smoke was so thick you couldn't see."
She went on to say, "Out front the smoke was so thick you couldn't even see the lights on the fire trucks that were right in front of you."
Mercado said she feared for the safety of her children and evacuated the building.
The first calls for help came in at about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday and when firefighters arrived they found two buildings completely engulfed in flames and the fire quickly spreading. It took two and a half hours to get the blaze under control and early Wednesday morning firefighters were still pouring water on smoky hot spots.
According to fire officials the blaze started at the rear of one of the buildings and spread wildly after it was fueled by siding made of asphalt and petroleum products. More than a dozen buildings in the area were evacuated. Those left homeless were encouraged to go to a Red Cross center set up at a nearby church.
There were reports of neighbors saying the fire was started when a dog knocked over a candle, but fire officials say they don't know the cause of the fire and the investigation is continuing.
Copyright 2012 - WPIX-TV, New York
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
