WEST NEW YORK, N.J. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A fire on Thursday night injured 10 firefighters and displaced more than a dozen residents in New Jersey, according to officials.
The fire broke out in an apartment above a pharmacy in West New York on Bergenline Avenue at 53rd Street, at around 5:30 p.m. and caused major damage to the building.
Neighbors were also forced to evacuate.
A video which surfaced on the Citizen App showed intense flames engulfing the building.
A fire on Thursday night injured 10 firefighters and displaced residents in West New York, New Jersey on Nov. 23, 2023.Citizen App
North Hudson fire officials said that an explosion led to the roof caving in while firefighters were on it, resulting in various injuries, including smoke inhalation and broken bones.
"Ten Firefighters were injured, two of whom suffered serious injuries," Hudson County Prosecutor said on Friday. "Additionally, four civilians were treated for minor injuries and released."
The firefighters were taken to a nearby hospital.
"I got a call that we had three members missing, we had a mayday and your heart just drops," West New York Fire Chief David Donnarumma said.
A fire on Thursday night injured eight firefighters and displaced residents in West New York, New Jersey on Nov. 23, 2023.Citizen App
It was not clear if the three missing were accounted for.
Donnarumma further explained that the explosion occurred as firefighters were combating flames bursting from the windows of the three-story corner building.
"It's a sad day for the township of West New York," Donnarumma said. "They with their residents, cause people are displaced, they lost their residences and lost their belongings. It's a difficult day for the firefighters, not because we had to work but because of the injuries. Now their families will be suffering as well."
Firefighters successfully evacuated the building and rescued several residents.
The fire was eventually contained, but it left 20 people without homes.
The American Red Cross confirmed that they were assisting at least 10 families affected by the disaster.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
