HARRISON —
Updated at 4:30 p.m.
A six-alarm fire is still giving firefighters trouble on Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard this afternoon, just as the West Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade is kicking off.
Reports say the fire broke out at around 12:30 p.m. in numerous, two-story attached homes and that fire can be seen shooting out of the roof of each building. Scanner traffic reveals firefighters have found heavy smoke in the rear of the buildings, as well.
Firefighters on scanners have also reported “trouble with water,” though it’s not immediately clear what the issues are.
One report indicates one of the buildings has collapsed and that numerous firefighters were injured by a backdraft that caused windows to break, sending debris flying (see Youtube video in posts below this
This photo was taken at about 2 p.m. Sunday from a few blocks away from the fire scene. Smoke continues to billow from the scene.
one). Five Jersey City firefighters were taken to hospital with injuries, officials say.
An eyewitness tells The Observer the fire is still burning as of 3:15 p.m.
The parade route, meanwhile, has been changed — and it will not proceed up Rodgers Boulevard from Harrison into Kearny as it normally would. It’s not immediately clear how the route will change.
The Jersey City, Kearny, East Newark Belleville and North Hudson Regional fire departments are on scene, providing mutual aid and alternate coverage, according to scanner traffic.
Please check back with The Observer for updates to this developing story.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.