Story and photos by Ron Jeffers
One man was killed and another resident in critical condition after a fire raced through a two-story wood-frame dwelling in Union City, New Jersey, on June 16th. North Hudson Regional Fire Department units were dispatched to 515-34th Street shortly before 3 a.m. Acting Deputy Chief Mike Falco was first to arrive and found flames venting out of the first floor.
Firefighters found three victims near the front door, according to Chief of Department Frank Montagne. Falco ordered a second alarm almost immediately as the fire extended to the second-floor.
One resident was at the front door, and firefighters rescued two more inside, Montagne said. City EMTs went to work, giving CPR to one man in front of the fire building as firefighters stretched handlines past them and into the building. A third alarm was later transmitted for additional manpower.
Union City EMS teams handled the patients as mutual aid ambulances from North Bergen and Weehawken were also called to the scene.
The fire was declared under control at 4:23 a.m. by A/D.C. Falco. An investigator from the NJ Division of Fire Safety and local officials were investigating the cause of the blaze.
See more photos from this fire HERE.
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