Monday, April 23, 2018

4-alarm fire in Jersey City burns two buildings, kills several cats, 1 rescued; 1 dozen families displaced






4-alarm fire in Jersey City kills several cats, 1 rescued; several families displaced


By Derick Waller

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (WABC) -- A four-alarm fire raced through two buildings in Jersey City early Monday.

Cupcake the cat was rescued from the window ledge by a Jersey City firefighter and reunited with its owner after it managed to escape the burning building.

Sadly, several other cats never made it out alive.

"One of the neighbors lost two cats," resident Naldlal Mano said. "We lost four cats, but everybody else, as far as we know, good."

Mano is looking at the bright side. No people died in the fire at the corner of Bergen and Bramhall avenues, nor were there any serious injuries, despite heavy smoke and flames that broke out in one building sometime after midnight before spreading next door.

"Breathing in the fire, one cop, he ran up inside and got a couple people out of the building," resident Charles Fountain said.

Fountain said he saw the flames and banged on neighbors' doors to get them out.

"Something's on fire, it's time to get out of here," he said.

Fire gutted the two buildings, and now, several families are now looking for a new place to live.

Mano says he still has faith.

"We have faith that somebody is upstair," he said. "Even though we have these losses, because it could have been worse."

The American Red Cross is assisting 42 people in 11 families with temporary lodging, food and clothing.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.


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JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Some good Samaritans are being credited with helping to get residents out of a burning apartment building in Jersey City.

The four-alarm fire broke out on Bergen Avenue. Video from the scene showed heavy smoke and flames shooting out of the building.


One witness, Spencer Spawnz, said he heard screaming coming from the area and saw the fire. He said he and friend ran into the building and started knocking on doors.

“I feel good. Nobody died, to my knowledge,” he told CBS2’s Marc Liverman. “A couple people that lost a lot of stuff, but that can be replaced. It is materialistic stuff.”

Fire crews were also seen pulling at least one cat to safety as it was sitting on the edge of the building surrounded by smoke.

The cat’s owner said he is thrilled his pet is safe, but said he had others inside the building at the time. It’s unclear if they were saved.

At least two people were hurt in the fire, but the extent of their injuries is unknown.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.