Authorities Recover Body Of Man Missing In Union City 8-Alarm Blaze
UNION CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Authorities have recovered the body of a man who was unaccounted for after an 8-alarm fire ravaged a row of apartment buildings in Union City.
Evaristo Guerra-Buxadera of West New York was found in the basement of the building on Bergenline Avenue where the fire started Wednesday night.
"It was a very difficult basement fire. They couldn't find and see the fire," said acting Fire Chief Frank Montane.
Most of the residents got out, but there was word early on that someone might have been trapped in the basement.
According to reports, Hudson County prosecutor Edward DeFazio said a preliminary examination shows the 55-year-old sustained burn-related injuries. Guerra-Buxadera was visiting a resident when the fire broke out.
Officials said cold temperatures and frozen lines made fighting the fire even more difficult and it took crews nearly nine hours to gain the upper hand on the blaze that displaced 70 residents.
The cause remains under investigation.
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