A woman was killed and at least one man was injured when a fast-moving fire roared through a northern New Jersey home.
Two firefighters also suffered minor injuries in the five-alarm blaze that broke out in Elizabeth around 9:30 p.m. Saturday and burned for several hours. But it was still not clear Sunday what sparked the fire, which destroyed the home and severely damaged two other residences.
Elizabeth Fire Chief Thomas McNamara told The Star-Ledger that the woman's body was found on the top floor of the three-story wood-frame home on William Street. But her name has not been released.
Authorities say the injured man jumped from the third floor to escape the flames.
About 100 firefighters from Elizabeth and other communities battled the blaze, which was not fully extinguished until early Sunday morning. Elizabeth firefighters were able to quickly reach the scene since they were about a block away on another call.
"These are real tough buildings. Fire travels all through them very quick," McNamara said.
Several residents displaced by the fire were being assisted by the American Red Cross.
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One of the home's residents, Nathaniel Peterson, told the newspaper that he fled the flames when a fire alarm sounded.
"It started on the first floor and just rose up," the 37-year-old Peterson said. "I ran down the stairs. The only thing that saved me was the fire alarm. I just rushed out."
