Early morning fire damages multiple buildings in East Orange, N.J.

A dozen people in East Orange are homeless after a fire swept through their homes. 

There were no serious injuries but many have lost everything they own. 

As CBS2's Christine Sloan reports, fire officials still don't know what caused the fire that's left several families homeless. 

Brave homeowners are telling Sloan the fire could have been avoided had the city dealt better with the abandoned house where the fire started. 

Investigators say the fire started early Wednesday morning in an abandoned house on Amherst Street in East Orange then quickly spread to three other homes. Mia Clark and her family barely escaped the flames. 

"Thank God everybody got out but I lost every single thing that I work hard for, I have nothing, nothing, I had no shoes, nothing on me, everything on me don't even belong to me, I have nothing, my grandkids have nothing — I lost everything that I worked hard for," Clark said. 

Kelly Rogers' home next door was completely destroyed, too. She was trapped inside as her porch was on fire. 

"I was scared to death — I never felt heat like in my face in my life," Rogers said. 

Rogers, diagnosed with the neurological diseases MS, is alive because of her husband Tony's heroic efforts. 

"He helped, picked me up to get me out of the house, because I was coming down as fast as I could," Rogers said. 

"I picked up his wife and took her to the car," a neighbor said. 

Tony went back for their dog Sarge. 

"That's my baby, and I am so glad. He's a good boy," Rogers said. 

Rogers and Clark are angry. They say they've reached out to the city about the vacant house for years. 

"I complained, complained, complained and nothing was done. Pillows hanging out the window, possible squatters in there. It started in that abandoned house and this could have been avoided," Clark said. 

"There were, like, possums and raccoons in there," Rogers said. 

"It should have been torn down or boarded up properly," Clark said. 

"We have a number and files that we did reach out to the owner of that property. Matter of fact our police department has been out here a number of times," said East Orange Mayor Ted Green. "This owner has a warrant out for his arrest."

But the mayor says the city has to do better at making sure vacant homes are boarded up. 

He also says they're working with the American Red Cross to help find the displaced residents housing. 

Firefighters are still on the scene of the fire, which engulfed several homes on Amherst Street in East Orange. 

Twelve neighbors have been displaced. 

Sloan spoke to several homeowners whose homes are completely destroyed. They barely got out, and both families told her they're angry because the fire started in an abandoned home that they've been complaining about. 

Investigators say the four alarm fire broke out just before 4:30 a.m. inside an abandoned home on Amherst Street and then quickly spread to three other homes. 

Mia Clark escaped the flames with her daughter and grandkids. 

"I heard a pop pop, and by the time we got outside the home, the whole abandoned house was in flames," Clark said. 

She says her home and car are gone. 

"I have nothing. Who is going to help me? I have nothing. Yes, thank God everybody got out, but I lost every single thing I worked hard for. I have nothing. These shoes aren't mine. Everything on me don't belong to me. I have nothing. I lost everything I worked hard for," she said. 

Next door, Kelly Rogers was overcome with fear. 

"I saw orange next to my bedroom window. I said 'Oh my God, the house is one fire," Rogers said. 

Diagnosed with the neurological disease MS and unable to move, Rogers was overcome with fear as her porch was on fire. 

"I was scared to death. I never felt heat like that on my face in my life," she said. 

"Your husband helped you?" Sloan asked. 

"He helped me. He picked me up to get me out of the house," Rogers said. 

Then he went back for their dog, Sarge. 

Rogers and Clark say they've been complaining about the abandoned house for years. 

"If they would have boarded it properly or tore it down this would not happen," Clark said. 

Sloan told the mayor the Clark had been complaining about the property but nothing was done.

"That is untrue. We have a number of records and files that we did reach out to the owner of that property. Matter of fact, our police department has been out here a number of times. But that don't negate the situation that happened with this fire, and maybe we need to get better with what we're doing," said East Orange Mayor Ted Green. 

At this hour, no word on what caused the fire. 

The mayor told Sloan he is working with the American Red Cross to find housing for the residents who have been displaced.