A four-alarm fire, fueled by high winds and frigid temperatures, burned out of control for four hours destroyed a two-family home in North Bergen last Sunday, injuring three members of the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue. The intense blaze began at approximately 4:30 p.m. last Sunday in a two-family house at 1405 14th St. between Kennedy Boulevard and Paterson Plank Road, and rapidly spread to the adjacent one-family residence at 1403 14th St. After struggling with gusts up to 40 miles-per-hour and sub-freezing temperatures for four hours, the fire was declared under control at approximately 8:30 p.m. The fire was so intense and large that firefighters from all five of the NHRFR were called to the scene. Several Jersey City squads were also called to duty, to both help with the blaze and to man the fire stations within the NHRFR that were left unmanned by those battling the fire. Three firefighters from NHRFR and one from Jersey City received minor injuries while fighting the fire. They were taken to Palisades General Hospital, where they were treated and released. Lt. James Bender, William Fischer and Mitchell Gerrity from the NHRFR, were injured. The name of the injured Jersey City firefighter was not released. Luckily, none of the residents of the two homes were injured in the fire. Because of the conditions, firefighters worked diligently to try to keep the fire within a small area. There was a major fear that the fire could spread to another six-family structure two doors down. The winds made the fire hard to contain and because of the temperatures, much of the water used to fight the fire almost instantly froze, causing the firefighters to slip and fall. In fact, according to NHRFR co-director Michael DeOrio, the injuries sustained by the firefighters were caused due to slipping on the ice or were cold related, rather than usual injuries, such as smoke inhalation, that firefighters generally suffer while on duty. Many of the residents of the block were evacuated while the fire was being extinguished. “It was a very scary scene,” said Anthony Velasquez, who lives in the home adjacent to where the fire started. “The flames were shooting through the windows and seemed to grow and grow. I just grabbed my daughter and we got as far away as we could. But it was so cold and windy out that it had to be hard to put the fire out.” A faulty oil burner and a faulty chimney are believed to be the cause of the fire. Fire investigators are looking into the building’s heating system. Shortly before the fire began, residents complained that the oil burner was not working properly. In fact, one of the residents contacted the NHRFR earlier Sunday morning with the complaints, and a squad from the NHRFR remained at the site until someone came to repair the burner. The repairman was apparently able to get the burner to operate properly. However, four hours later, the burner began to malfunction again, sending smoke and fire between the chimney and the walls of the homes. The area between the roof and the top floor of the building was engulfed in flames, which forced the firefighters to rip holes into the roof. After investigation, fire officials revealed that the chimney had breaks in it and that helped the fire to spread. “There were pieces of the mortar and pieces of the brick missing in the chimney,” DeOrio said. “That’s why it was able to spread to the adjacent home, through the walls, despite the fire starting in the second floor of the other building. At first, we couldn’t understand, because the actual side of where the fire started had limited damage. But it traveled through the walls. The chimney usually provides a flue going up.” According to DeOrio, this fire was definitely one that could have been a lot worse. “We were very lucky,” DeOrio said. “Although there were high winds, they were blowing west to east. If the winds were blowing in the other direction, the fire would have spread to the adjacent homes, which are all attached. It really could have been more of a disaster.” Added DeOrio, “The smoke alarms did work, so everyone was able to get out safely. Because at 6:30 or 7 p.m., the conditions were pretty bad. But the fire was held mainly to the two-story building.” North Bergen building inspectors are going to examine the structure further this week to see if it poses any safety hazards and whether it has to be raised. The adjacent homes received smoke and water damage, but the residents of those buildings have been able to return. “I don’t think it can be saved, because the roof was torn off and the damage was extensive,” DeOrio said. “But before it can be razed, there are two buildings owned by different people that are attached. It’s up to the owners what they’re going to do.”