JERSEY CITY — A fire on Thursday night at 296 Fifth St. in Jersey City killed at least one person.
Firefighters arrived on the scene at about 10 p.m. to find flames pouring out the front windows of the two-story brownstone. Several people are also reported injured.
Councilman Daniel Rivera said firefighters put the fire out quickly, but due to heavy smoke and possession on fire inside the home, it was difficult for them to get inside.
This was a one-family three story house. Three people lived in the house, a mother, father and a daughter.
The fire, Rivera said, started in the basement and worked its way up into the rest of the house, sending heavy smoke up into the upper portions.
The father apparently tried to reach the daughter’s bedroom on the third floor but was overcome with smoke and had to go out to get air. He apparently attempted to reenter the building but the fire made it impossible, Rivera said.
“He was very distraught,” Rivera said, noting that the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
The daughter, who was in her early 30s, appears to have perished in her sleep possibly due to smoke inhalation, Rivera said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The fire department did a wonderful job,” Rivera said. “They responded quickly and put the fire house, but conditions inside the house make it impossible for them to get inside.” – By Al Sullivan
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