Fire Wrecks Essex County Apartment Complex, Aid Efforts Started: PHOTOS

Essex County, NJ - Several Essex County fire crews responded to a three-alarm blaze in Bloomfield on Saturday evening that ripped through an apartment building on Charles Street.

The fire created black plumes of smoke that could be seen from the Garden State Parkway, and may have started in a vacant apartment on the second floor of the building, CBS New York reported.

Although the blaze displaced six families, it also produced a moment of heroism when Roy Campbell, an employee of a nearby auto repair shop, reportedly ran into the building to help alert the residents when he noticed parts of the roof collapsing.

Some of the displaced residents were temporarily housed at the Bloomfield Civic Center

In addition to the Bloomfield Fire Department and Police Department, crews from Irvington, East Orange, Clifton, West Orange and Verona responded to the scene of the blaze, authorities said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

After Mayor Michael Venezia posted news of the fire on his Facebook page, community members immediately began to pull together and offer donations of clothes and other items for the displaced families.

“There are at least six families without homes tonight following the horrible fire on Charles Street,” Venezia wrote. “I personally know two families that lived in the house... Five little girls with nothing... Sizes 7, 8, 10, 2T and a 16-year-old (don't have her size yet)... Two sets of parents as well... They have nothing... Anything that you can give, please inbox me ... If you don't have anything to donate please share this post.”

In a Sunday update, Venezia wrote:

“I want to thank everyone in the community who has been willing to help the families of last night's fire, we are truly a great community. Many of you have asked where you can donate and starting today you can bring items to our Fire HQ on the corner of Franklin and Montgomery. Starting tomorrow and the rest of the week, you can bring items to the mayor's office and the Civic Center… Also, school supplies and toys are needed. Boys 4, 6 and 10 clothing. Size 12 pants woman medium and large tops for girls and women male 30-32 pants medium and large shirts... 2T for girls.”

In addition, a GoFundMe online fundraising campaign has been started for one of the affected families, which can be seen here.

“My sister and her children have lost everything,” the fundraising campaign states. “They just moved here just had the house full furnished brand new everything all gone. They have nothing left everything is burnt up in the fire.”

Photos courtesy of Enzo DiCostanzo

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