65 people displaced after overnight fire in Passaic, New Jersey

More than 60 people have been displaced following after an early Friday morning fire in Passaic, New Jersey.

Authorities say three people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, but everyone who lived in the building got out alive, CBS2's Christine Sloan reported.

It was a terrifying morning for the people who live in the apartment building on Hamilton Avenue. Fire tore through their units at around 2 a.m. Many of them were still asleep as smoke started engulfed their homes.

"I am scared, a lot, My wife, she crying," victim Salomon Gaspar said.

His daughter described how the family escaped the flames.

"My mother woke up because of the smell. She saw smoke, she went ahead and woke up my father. My father got up, he went to the kitchen window, he saw the fire outside," Janette Gaspar said.

"The window exploded, you know. The first glass of the window exploded when I opened the window, but I running, I take my daughter, my wife, everybody, go outside," Salomon Gaspar said.

"I heard the fire alarm and went out," Santiago Rodriguez added.

Some were holding on to their dogs. Others, their babies. Most just escaped with the clothes they were wearing.

"We lost everything. We have nothing," Salomon Gaspar said.

Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said lives were saved, thanks to the heroic efforts of firefighters from several nearby companies.

"They were able to respond immediately and expedited the evacuation, which, again, resulted in the saving of lives and that's what's important," Lora said. "One of the challenges that we did identify is that because it happened in a certain, near certain, gas line. The gas spread the fire, so it spread quickly. That's why I want to highlight the remarkable efforts of the fire department, the leadership."

One woman said she barely got out with her daughter. She's now staying at a shelter at the Dayton Avenue School.

"The Red Cross is here for them to provide disaster, mental health services, and spiritual care. We can provide that as well, but right now we want to make sure they have a place to stay, something to eat," said Sheri Ferreira of the American Red Cross.

Sloan spoke to the owner of the building and he said it doesn't have a sprinkler system because it was built in the 1970s. Meanwhile, the mayor said he's in touch with the governor to make sure rental assistance can somehow be provided to the displaced families.

Right now, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

An early morning fire has displace 65 residents of a building in Passaic, New Jersey. 

Thankfully, everyone escaped without injury. 

Flames engulfed the building on Hamilton Avenue. As CBS2's Christine Sloan reports, the fire broke out when so many residents were sleeping. 

The city's mayor says it's because firefighters got to the scene so quickly that so many escaped, but it's going to be a long road back for those who got out with just the clothes on their backs. 

Smoke billowed from the building shortly after 3 a.m. on the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Madison Street. 

"Thank God we have not had a single loss of life," said Passaic Mayor Hector Lora. 

Officials say the fire broke out on the first floor. Sixty five residents escaped the flames. Lora says that's thanks to working fire alarms and firefighters from several companies responding quickly. 

"I want to commend the efforts of our firefighters. Because of their heroic efforts and constant work over 65 individuals, even though they're displaced. They're alive today--- children, family and seniors," Lora said. "This fire occurred right between our senior building right across the street from our school and right next to a much larger structure that we've had to evacuate individuals."

Right now, the cause of the fire is under investigation. The mayor says they've opened City Hall to those who have been displaced and they're working with the American Red Cross to make sure they have shelter. 

Several streets in the area have been blocked off. That's especially difficult because the fire happened near a school. 

The mayor says they opened up a brand new school, so some students can attend classes. 

"I want to commend the efforts of our firefighters. Because of their heroic efforts and constant work, over 65 individuals, even though they're displaced, they're alive today -- children, families, seniors," Passaic Mayor Hector Lora told reporters on the scene. "This fire occurred right between our senior building, right across the street from our school, and right next to a much larger structure."