JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A three-alarm fire left over a dozen firefighters injured Wednesday.
ABC7 reported that 15 firefighters suffered heat exhaustion following the blaze, eight of which were transported to the hospital.
“Due to the extreme heat and humidity, the guys with all the gear, this is the same gear they wear when it’s five degrees,” Jersey City Fire Chief Darren Rivers said. “So when it’s 80 or 90 degrees, these guys can lose fluids rapidly.
As of Wednesday, three firefighters remained hospitalized; the others have been treated and released.
Officials believe the fire began in a bathroom where an electrical outlet malfunction may have occurred.
Firefighters faced some difficulty battling the fire from the street due to power lines, prompting a request for backup support.