Dozens Displaced By 4-Alarm Fire In Jersey City
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Dozens of residents were forced out of their apartment following an early an overnight fire in Jersey City.
The fire broke out just before midnight on Bergen Avenue. Video from the scene showed heavy smoke and flames shooting out of the building.
Spencer Spawnz said he heard screaming coming from the area and ran over with a friend.
"We both ran in the building," he told CBS2's Marc Liverman. "It was like, 'yo, you take the second floor, I'm about to go on the third floor.' We went in there, knocked on some doors and got everybody out of the building."
The fire quickly grew to four alarms. Spawnz said he didn't have time to think -- just act.
"It was scary. I've seen fire everywhere," he said. "It looked like the building was about to burn down, but I'm just happy we were able to get in there. A guy was trying to get his cats."
One of those cats became trapped on a ledge surrounded by smoke.
"I saw a shimmer of light on the building across from us and I watched out the window and I saw the fire," said resident Abaz Mano.
When the smoke started pouring into Mano's apartment, he said he looked but couldn't find his cats, except for Cupcake, who was stuck before being pulled to safety by fire crews.
"It's a big relief," he said. "At least I got her."
His four other cats are still missing, but he's holding on to hope that they're all OK.
"They went down the street? I can only hope," he said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but firefighters think it may have started in an alley next to the building.
"I feel good. Nobody died, to my knowledge," Spawnz said. "A couple people that lost a lot of stuff, but that can be replaced. It is materialistic stuff."
One resident was treated for asthma. Two firefighters were also treated for minor injuries.
In the end, 48 people were forced out of their homes and at least ten families have to relocate. The Red Cross is now assisting everyone affected.
