Elizabeth, NJ House Fire Leaves Dozens Homeless Before Thanksgiving

Devastating House Fire in Elizabeth

• 🏠 A massive fire erupted on Style Street in Elizabeth, New Jersey, leaving several families displaced just days before Thanksgiving.
• 💨 The blaze started with black smoke and quickly engulfed the porch and front entrance of a duplex.
• ⚠️ Neighbors reported that some residents had to jump out of windows to escape the rapidly spreading flames.

Resident Accounts and Evacuation

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Archie Dela Cruz and his wife Demi escaped with their one-year-old daughter and dogs, grabbing only jackets and IDs.
• 💔 They witnessed people breaking windows and jumping to safety, describing the scene as emotional but thankfully resulting in everyone's safe evacuation.
• 🏥 Six to seven individuals were transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Fire Department Response and Building Damage

• 🚒 Elizabeth Fire Department's deputy chief Kevin Preston stated that the fire was widespread upon arrival, affecting the first floor, second floor, and attic of the large, older building.
• 🧑‍🚒 Approximately 80 firefighters from nearly a dozen companies responded to the incident.
• 🏘️ The adjacent house also sustained damage from the intense heat.
• 🏗️ Officials anticipate the heavily damaged building will require demolition.

Community Impact and Investigation

• 🦃 The timing of the fire, the weekend before Thanksgiving, exacerbates the hardship for at least a dozen people who need immediate assistance like temporary housing, according to the Red Cross.
• 🙏 The community has begun stepping in, providing essentials for those affected.
• 🔍 The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.