Witnesses said they saw people jumping from the three-story home on Washington Avenue. Watch video
LITTLE FERRY - A 5-year-old girl was among several people injured late Tuesday after fire tore through a three-story home, according to 7online.com.
Police Chief Ralph C. Verdi told NorthJersey.com that the girl was critically injured.
Witnesses said they saw people jumping from the three-story home on Washington Avenue.
"Things were exploding and people were running around trying to find out which house and to see if the people that lived there were okay," said Rebecca Anne, an Instagram user who took video of the blaze.
Little Ferry police Lt. Chris Boel said he was nearby when he spotted the fire.
"I heard a big pop. Some type of explosion," Boel said. "Not sure if it came from the garage or cars parked in the driveway."
Boel said fathers were dropping their children from windows on the second and third floors to first-responders waiting to catch them below.
A 5-year-old girl was given CPR at the scene and taken to a hospital in unknown condition, according to the report.
Several other victims, including three police officers, were taken to the hospital. Some were treated and released while others were admitted, according to the report.
The fire began about 11 p.m. and took several hours to extinguish, according to reports.
Ernest Mathews, 55, lives in an apartment across the street.
He says he heard four explosions, the first of which sounded like a firecracker.
"I ran to the house with my two flashlights and got to the front door, but I couldn't go in because it was engulfed in flames," he said.
Mathews said he went around back and found a man and woman who had apparently jumped from the second or third floor.
"The lady was in pretty bad shape. She looked like she landed on her face," Mathews said. "The man was passed out completely."
The American Red Cross said it was helping six people in two families receive emergency assistance for temporary lodging, food and clothing.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.