A fast-moving three-alarm fire tore through a multi-family residence at 470 Jefferson Ave. in Elizabeth early Sunday, displacing multiple households and sending one woman to the hospital after she jumped from a third-floor window to escape the blaze.
Fire spreads from rear of building; residents forced out
Firefighters were called to the Jefferson Avenue property at about 7:30 a.m., when flames were reported running along the rear of the structure and extending from the first floor, according to officials. The intensity of the fire prompted a third-alarm response and more than a dozen units and chiefs worked to bring the blaze under control.
Neighbors said there were reports of people trapped inside as crews arrived. A 50-year-old woman was found in the rear driveway after jumping from a third-floor window to escape the fire. She was taken first to University Hospital with burns and possible traumatic injuries and later transferred to St. Barnabas Hospital, where officials said she suffered a broken bone.
"By the time we started evacuating, it was already big, and that's when things got really crazy,"
Residents described chaotic scenes as households fled the building in the early morning. One neighbor said she heard cries for help and watched the woman jump when it became impossible to go back downstairs. Those accounts echoed later comments from other onlookers who said neighbors and children were left with little more than what they rushed out wearing.
Displacement and relief efforts
The fire damaged multiple units and caused exterior damage to an adjacent multi-family home. The American Red Cross deployed its Disaster Action Team to assist affected residents. The agency reported it is providing emergency financial assistance and other immediate needs support to 15 people from eight displaced families, including help with temporary lodging, food and clothing.
- Location: 470 Jefferson Ave., Elizabeth
- Alarm level: Third alarm
- Time reported: about 7:30 a.m.
- People affected: 15 people from 8 families (being assisted by Red Cross)
- Injuries: one 50-year-old woman with burns, possible traumatic injuries and a broken bone; hospitalized
Investigations and community impact
Fire officials said the blaze appeared to originate at the back of the first floor and then spread up into the attic area, which made interior fire suppression more difficult. The cause of the fire was not immediately released and remains under investigation.
For neighbors, the loss is immediate and practical. Several residents described seeing children outside with no shoes or shirts when they evacuated. One resident said, "I lost it all, but we're alive. That's what matters." Another noted the strain on families who must now find temporary housing, including a woman working to arrange shelter for her two small children while her mother recovers.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 470 Jefferson Ave., Elizabeth |
| Alarm level | 3-alarm |
| People assisted by Red Cross | 15 people (8 families) |
| Injuries | One woman (50) — burns, traumatic injuries, broken bone; hospitalized |
Elizabeth emergency responders conducted interior searches to ensure no additional victims remained inside after crews gained better access to the building. Neighbors and local organizations have begun coordinating immediate needs for the displaced residents while officials continue their investigation into the fire's origin.
City and fire officials did not immediately release further details on the woman's condition or a timeline for investigators. As the community responds, local families are relying on the Red Cross and neighbor-to-neighbor assistance for short-term recovery.
