Passaic officials are working to help families displaced by a New Year’s Eve fire that left a 50-year-old woman dead.
Temporary accommodations are being arranged for residents whose apartments are uninhabitable due to the damage.
“We will work with our Human Services, our Fire Department, and the owner to find temporary accommodations for any residents whose apartments will not be accessible,” said Passaic Mayor Hector Carlos Lora.
The American Red Cross has also provided emergency support to families affected by a New Year’s Day fire, the organization said.
Working with the city, the Red Cross opened a temporary shelter at the Mohammed Ali School on Dayton Street, where displaced residents were offered meals, comfort, and care while the building remained without utilities, said Diane Concannan, Director of Communications of Red Cross New Jersey.
“Utilities have since been restored, allowing some families to return to their homes,” she said. However, nine families—comprising 18 people—are unable to return due to damage.
Two additional families, currently out of town, will also receive aid upon their return, Concannon said.
The shelter at the Mohammed Ali School is set to close today as the Red Cross continues to assist those in need.
The fire broke out Tuesday night in a first-floor apartment on Madison Street, forcing residents to evacuate as flames and smoke spread through the building. Firefighters pulled the woman, whose identity has not been released pending family notification, from a window in the affected unit. She died shortly after being rescued.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, which is overseeing the investigation into the cause of the fire, did not respond to requests for comment.
A 66-year-old man who lived with the woman was in critical condition at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Lora said.
“It’s tragic that this family is beginning the New Year with this loss,” Lora said.
The three-alarm fire began around 9:30 p.m. on the first floor of the three-story brick building near Christopher Columbus Park. It was brought under control by 10:40 p.m. Two police officers were treated for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic NJ fire leaves 18 people still displaced days later