🚨 Early Morning Blaze Partially Collapses Jersey City Building, Injures Six Firefighters

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — July 10, 2025 — In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, a fierce three-alarm fire ignited in an abandoned three-story building at 319 Fourth Street, rapidly spreading to two adjacent structures and forcing evacuations across the block.

🔥 Fire Details & First Response

Time: Emergency crews reported flames erupting around 1:30 a.m., and the fire quickly prompted a second and third alarm due to its intensity  . Buildings Involved: The initial blaze broke out in a vacant, boarded-up three-story building and spread to neighboring homes (). Collapse: The intensity was such that floors collapsed onto lower levels, leading to a partial structural collapse in the main building ().

🚒 Firefighter Injuries & Rescue Efforts

Casualties: Six Jersey City firefighters incurred non-life-threatening injuries, including smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, and were treated at Jersey City Medical Center  . Union President John Collins noted many injuries stemmed from heat and smoke-related exhaustion  . Containment: Crews employed multiple hose lines and contained the blaze within just over an hour  .

🏚️ Civilian Impact & Ongoing Investigation

Evacuations: Adjacent buildings sustained minor damage; no civilian injuries have been reported  . Displaced Residents: The Red Cross is assisting 6 to 8 people from neighboring homes, including two families  . Possible Squatters: Fire Chief Jack Johnson mentioned that civilians reported vagrants may have occupied the main building  . Structural Safety: Authorities are assessing whether the damaged structure needs demolition due to instability ().

🔎 What’s Next

Fire officials say the cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Meanwhile, several streets remain closed, and investigations continue into potential building code violations, including why a hazardous structure remained unoccupied and unsecured.