A massive fire in New Jersey sent smoke billowing over New York City Wednesday morning - and as firefighters reined that one in, a second major blaze broke out down the road.
Arson investigators are now looking at both fires, and authorities indicate they're aware a third fire Tuesday night shares some similarities with Wednesday's blazes.
All three fires -- in Plainfield, West New York and Union City -- appear to have affected Hispanic-owned businesses in business districts, though it's not clear yet if they're actually linked in any way.
Chopper 4 was over the scene of the 5-alarm blaze on Bergenline Avenue in West New York early Wednesday. It broke out around 4:30 a.m. and drew a significant response from local fire companies.
By 6 a.m. roofs were collapsing, but by 7 a.m. firefighters had the conflagration largely under control. The row of commercial buildings — including a nail salon, Carvel ice cream store and a barbecue restaurant — that had apartments above them are now inhabitable.
Nonetheless, the smoke was still well evident over the city, as the plume traveled due east across the Hudson River and could be seen over the Upper West Side.
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North Hudson fire officials said five businesses were impacted, but everyone in the residential portion of the buildings was evacuated safely. West New York Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez said 11 families were displaced.
Not long after the West New York fire started to settle down, a new blaze broke out, also on Bergenline Avenue in Union City, about 3.5 miles away. That blaze also quickly escalated to multiple alarms.
Chopper 4 was over that scene as well, as thick black smoke blanketed a densely packed neighborhood.
Union City Mayor Brian Stack explained why it took so much effort from dozens of firefighters to put out the flames.
"Very old buildings, all common cocklofts, goes from one to the other very quickly," Stack said.
About 50 people were displaced as a result of the Union City fire.
"These are poor families, the businesses...suffer the most. One of the poorest sections of the city, these are hardworking people just trying to make ends meet, so were gonna try to help them rebuild and stay in Union City," Stack said.
Help came from as far away as Essex County, but it would have been even more challenging if Hudson hadn't become a regional force decades ago.
"We’re very lucky we regionalized 23 years ago and because of that, we have a lot of companies to respond. Triple the amount we would have had in the original fire," said Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Chief David Donnarumma.
The two fires follow a blaze Tuesday night in Plainfield that devastated a row of businesses.
That 4-alarm blaze tore through at least six stores.
