A five alarm fire that burned for several hours in North Bergen and displaced dozens of families is now under control.

Fire at a North Bergen apartment building
Fire at a North Bergen apartment building (Townsquare Media NJ)
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Thick, black smoke billowed out of the roof of the five story Poinciana apartment building on Kennedy Boulevard at 92nd Street for several hours. North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco on his Facebook page said "the main danger appears to be over" and thanked firefighters for their efforts to "(minimize) injuries and preventing it from spreading to neighboring buildings.

 

Sacco believes the fire was electrical according to the Star Ledger although an invesigation to its exact cause is underway.  Sacco believes the blaze began on the fifth floor between the cockloft and the roof.

The building is one of five connected high rise apartment buildings. At least 60 families live in the buildings.

Sacco earlier posted on Facebook that evacuated families were taken to North Bergen High School.

"The structure is compromised, numerous families are displaced, and the Red Cross is assisting," North Bergen police officer Dino Apostolakos told The Record.

Sacco also posted that PSE&G has cut power in the immediate area for safety concerns.

Townsquare Media's Tom Mongelli says the fire has fully engulfed the top floor and has been burning since approximately 5:30 p.m.

One firefighter got broken ribsbecause he fell down some stairs according to WM

Fire crews from several surrounding communities are on scene with over two dozen pieces of equipment including Jersey City and North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue. Crews are "power-washing" the building, which is on the North Bergen/Fairview border, causing bricks to come off and fall to the street.

He says the fire seems to be getting worse as the building has a tar roof. Several surrounding streets around the area have been blocked off.

The smoke was visible from lower Manhattan and the New Jersey Turnpike.


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