A raging 5-alarm fire ripped through several homes in Paterson this afternoon.
Firefighters are still on the scene battling the intense blaze that ignited at 21 Rose Street, an abandoned house, then spread to three others according to fire officials.
Heavy fire broke out inside the vacant house at around 3 p.m. sending nearly a hundred firefighters to the scene where they began to surround and drown the structure.
According to city officials, everyone was able to escape the blaze, but several firefighters suffered smoke inhalation reported.
About a dozen families are displaced according to officials.
Squatters caused the fire officials said.