Four firefighters fell through two floors weakened by fire as a four-alarm blaze tore through several buildings in New Jersey Monday night, officials say.
A fifth person, the building’s owner, was also injured.
The firefighters, working to douse the blaze at East 23rd Street and 10th Avenue in Paterson, fell from the building’s second floor to the basement as charred floors collapsed beneath them, officials say.
The extent of their injuries wasn't immediately clear.
The fire broke out at one of the buildings at about 5:30 p.m., engulfing the house in and shooting plumes of heavy smoke into the sky. The fire quickly spread to three additional structures, according to authorities.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
