6-Alarm Harrison Building Injures Firefighters, Displaces Families [VIDEO]
A 6-alarm fire at a building in Harrison has sent several firefighters to the hospital, displaced several families and forced the annual West Hudson St. Patrick's Day parade to be re-routed
The two-story building at Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard and Davis Street in Harrison exploded around noon reports the Star- Ledger. Thick black smoke and flames began pouring from the building as the fire grew to fire alarms.
The fire was brought under control around 4:45 p.m. according to WCBS TV.
The New Jersey Red Cross tells WNBC TV they are assisting 17 families displaced by the fire, which may have started in the kitchen of a restaurant on the lower level.
The roof partially collapsed on the building and damaged several neighboring buildings including a church which was quick evacuated during its morning services as the fire broke out.
At least 5 firefighters were hospitalized when they were struck by debris from a backdraft in an explosion. WCBS TV reports the firefighters were from Jersey City. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening, but officials said one firefighter suffered extensive cuts from the shattered glass of a broken window.
Video as posted on Jersey Shore Hurricane News Facebook page
The 39th Annual West Hudson Saint Patrick's Day Parade will still go on as scheduled at 2 p.m. but will be re-routed to avoid the fire scene according to News 12 New Jersey.
The new route will diverted along Second Street into Kearny because of the fire, Mark McDermott, a member of the Parade committee told the Star Ledger, taking it completely away from the fire scene.
The parade includes over 1,000 marchers and thousands more along a parade route that normally goes through Harrison, East Newark and Kearny.
The Associated Press contributed to this report