Deputy fire chief: Northern NJ blaze leaves 1 dead, 1 critically hurt, as many as 6 missing

Chief: 1 dead, 1 hurt, up to 6 missing in NJ fire

PATERSON, N.J. — A fire official says a blaze in northern New Jersey has left one person dead, one hurt and as many as six missing.

Deputy Chief Scott MacGilvray says the fire broke out at a house in Paterson early Wednesday. The flames spread to homes on either side.

One person died and one was critically injured. MacGilvray says six people are unaccounted for, but he’s not sure if they were at home when the fire broke out.

Authorities have brought in trained dogs and heavy equipment, but the search has been stymied because the rubble is not stable.

The home where the fire originated has collapsed. Another home was heavily damaged and a third suffered external damage from smoke and flames.

The blaze was declared under control before 6 a.m.