Fire Tears Through Apartments, Leaves 14 Homeless In Middlesex County, Officials Say

DUNELLEN, NJ — A three-alarm fire tore through an apartment building in Dunellen Friday night, leaving 14 people homeless, authorities said.

Everyone was safely evacuated and there were no injuries, authorities said.

The fire on the 300 block of Front Street was reported at 9:54 p.m., Dunellen Defender Fire Company 1 said.

Heavy smoke was found throughout the second floor when Fire Chief William Scott arrived and as he began to check the entire outside of the building, flames tore through the attic out the top of the building, the fire company said.

Photos and video shared on Instagram by photographer Caleb Maistrow show flames shooting from a window and smoke billowing from the building.

Firefighters tried to fight the blaze in the interior of the building but the flames worsened so they poured water onto it from above, the fire company said.

The damage caused the roof to collapse eventually, authorities said, and fire crews remained at the scene until about 5 a.m. to ensure the fire had been extinguished.

The Red Cross of New Jersey said it was assisting 14 people in four families, who had lost everything in the fire.

Dunellen Mayor Jason F. Cilento said in addition to the Red Cross, which was helping with immediate needs, The Carol Fund, a nonprofit associated with the Dunellen Schools, and the Dunellen Parent Teacher Organization were organizing assistance for the families.

"I want to thank our firefighters, police officers, rescue personnel, and all of the first responders who worked through the night to bring the fire under control and keep our community safe," Cilento said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Middlesex County Fire Marshal. In addition to the Dunellen Fire Company and Dunellen police, Dunellen Rescue, Dunellen Department of Public Works and the Dunellen Office of Emergency Management responded.