Fire burns through 5 businesses in West New York, New Jersey

Officials are investigating a fire in Union City and and another in West New York.

It's still unclear if they're connected, but both burned down key shopping areas and left dozens of people homeless.

They happened on the same avenue four miles apart and within in three-hour timespan, so fire officials said they had to share resources. Both fires destroyed business and homes.

"It's smoke, a lot of smoke, inside my house," Union City resident Dennys Daniam said.

Daniam said she woke up to the smell of burning rubber. She ran outside and saw one of her friend's businesses on fire.

"My friend lost the beauty salon. She lost everything," Daniam said.

The fire broke out at a strip of shops along Bergenline Avenue and 10th Street, officials said.

"This was a tough one to fight. Believe it started in the basement, traveled throughout the void," said Joseph Isola, director of Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue.

The fire spread to at least five businesses.

"Beauty salon and next to it was a radio repair and smoke shop. Another small store and then there's a supermarket, an auto parts store, and a liquor store," said Justin Mercado of the Union City Board of Education.

Earlier Wednesday morning, another fire swept through a commercial district along Bergenline and 61st Street in West New York. Thick smoke could be seen billowing over the Hudson River.

"This sky was very black," one person said.

"It was more or less like something you would see in the movie, the black clouds, the fire," another person said.

Chopper 2 was over the scene, showing the scale of the damage. At least five businesses were destroyed, their roofs collapsed.

"We have a pizzeria. We have an ice cream shop. We have a nail salon. We have a beauty supply store and an electronics shop," West New York Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez said.

Two dozen people had to be evacuated.

"I saw the kids come out, and the family. The family was crying, come out in pajamas," West New York resident Daisy Fernandez said.

"Unfortunately, the 10 families have been displaced. The good thing is that nobody was hurt," Rodriguez said.

The fire marshal's office and an arson task force is investigating both fires. Officials say as soon as the investigation is complete, the focus will shift to rebuilding.

Officials said nearly 50 people were being moved to temporary housing. 

A fire burned through a retail section of West New York early Wednesday morning, destroying multiple businesses and displacing at least a dozen nearby residents. 

CBS2's Natalie Duddridge was on there scene where it was incredibly smoky. 

The fire has been contained, but firefighters are still putting out hot spots. 

It broke out in the heart of the Business District. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Thick smoke engulfed the main shopping district along Bergenline Avenue and could be seen billowing over the Hudson River. 

"Something burning, like rubber," one person said of the smell. 

"The sky was very black," another person added. 

"It was more or less like something you would see in a movie, with the black clouds, the fire," said another. 

It started around 4:30 a.m., destroying at least five businesses after their roofs collapsed. 

"We have a pizzeria, we have an ice cream shop, we have a nail salon, we have a beauty supply store and an electronics shop," West New York Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez said. 

More than a dozen people who live nearby were forced to evacuate.

"I saw the kids come out and the family," resident Daisy Fernandez said. "The family was crying, coming out in pajamas."

"Unfortunately, 10 families have been displaced. The good thing is that nobody was hurt," said Rodriguez. 

"That's really scary, and all those businesses that we go to. It's really sad and scary," one resident said. 

Some residents said they couldn't get to work because their cars were stuck in a parking lot next to the burning buildings. 

"Nobody can move the cars, we have to wait. They're stuck," said Delfim Barbosa. 

"I can get to it, I just can't get out," another person added. 

The fire marshal's office is on the scene investigating what started the fire, and the arson task force is also looking into it. 

Officials told residents and a nearby school to keep their windows closed. 

Bergenline Avenue will likely be shut down from 60th to 62nd for several hours. 

Crews had to deal with a second fire that broke out Wednesday morning in Hudson County. 

This one was reported shortly before 9 a.m. at a building on Bergenline Avenue in Union City. 

The scene is about 2.5 miles down Bergenline Avenue from the West New York fire.

Chopper 2 was overhead, where thick smoke could be seen billowing across the area.

Fire officials say five businesses have been destroyed by the blaze. 

The flames broke out shortly before 4:30 a.m.

No one was injured, but the roofs of all five businesses collapsed. 

Nearby residents are advised to keep their windows closed due to smoke.