Fire Burns 5 Union City Buildings

A five-alarm fire has burned through 5 buildings in Union City early Tuesday morning.

Fire crews finally brought the fire under control around 7:30 a.m. reports NBC 4 New York.

The station says the fire started in a deli on New York Avenue around 2 a.m. which spread up the building. Thick smoke could be seen for several miles around as the fire engulfed several row homes and several dozen residents on the  were evacuated.

"These buildings are very hard to contain because they're all attached and they're all wood frame buildings," Jeff Welz of the North Hudson Fire and Rescue Department  told NBC 4 New York

The wooden two-story building appears to be completely destroyed by the flames according to 7 ABC which reports the fire was first spotted by a sheriff's officer on patrol.

New Jersey Fast Traffic says the fire is having an effect on the morning commute. New York Avenue is closed between Paterson Plank Road and 3rd Avenue as fire fighters continue to fight the fire while NJ Transit bus route numbers 84, 86 & 123 are being detoured.

MORE COVERAGE:

• Crews Battle 5-Alarm Blaze in Union City: Officials / NBC 4 New York
• 5-alarm Union City fire spreads to 5th building / ABC 7