Raw video & radio traffic from Union City, NJ 6th alarm with report of a backdraft

Raw video with real time radio traffic captured by homer218 at a six-alarm fire Thursday night in Union, New Jersey. North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue ordered the evacuation of various buildings as the fire grew.

Michaelangelo Conte, The Jersey Journal:

More than 60 people were left homeless by a six-alarm blaze that ripped through three Union City structures in late Thursday’s frigid weather, leaving many residents with nothing but the clothes on their backs and taking up shelter at a city school.

Firefighters responding to the blaze saw smoke coming from the roof of 519 19th Street before a backdraft in the cockloft caused an explosion on the top floor of the three-story building, North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue Chief Frank Montagne said tonight.

“Once that happened the fire really took off,” said the chief, adding that it spread to 517 19th Street, also a three-story building, and to a garage. “A second alarm was called right away and a couple minutes later it went to three. The fourth alarm was for more manpower and the fifth and sixth were because of the cold weather and fatigue.”