Massive fire destroys parts of New Jersey apartment complex

EDGEWATER, N.J. -- Firefighters battled a huge fire at a New Jersey apartment complex Wednesday night with flames and smoke visible from New York City across the Hudson River.

The fire broke out around 4:30 p.m. and raged on multiple floors of the Avalon Edgewater complex in Edgewater, about 10 miles north of New York City. It quickly spread to hundreds of units and was still burning violently five hours after it started, CBS New York reported.

Authorities say it appears everyone in the four-story building was able to get out safely. No injuries had been reported.

The fire was raised to five alarms as structures collapsed, according to Edgewater police. According to CBS New York reporter Jessica Schneider, sounds that appeared to be explosions were heard around 9 p.m. as the structures fell.

Embers rose 500 feet and smoke ascended 1,000 or 1,500 feet into the air.

Fire departments from surrounding towns were called in to help, but the firefighting effort was hampered by strong winds and frigid temperatures.

The water supply at the scene also proved problematic, according to a fire battalion chief from nearby Bogota.

"If you hit the hydrant in so many locations, it lowers the pressure," Bogota Fire Battalion Chief Joe DeMauro told CBS New York. "Not a lot of water."

The fire grew so large that the flames were visible from Midtown Manhattan. New York emergency officials advised residents in Manhattan and the Bronx that they might see or smell smoke.

The fire stretched for at least three city blocks and affected more than 400 people who had to be evacuated. One firefighter told Schneider he had never seen a blaze like it.

"I came here around 5:30, and basically there wasn't that much of a fire, but it was just smoke," said resident Hamza Alkhayyat. "But now, as you can see, it's horrible."

At least 50 percent of the complex was completely destroyed. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

The apartment complex was the scene of a fire in August 2000, when it was still under construction. Several nearby homes were also damaged.