Three firefighters were injured in a fire that damaged three homes in Passaic early Friday.
One fireman was hospitalized complaining of back pain after he jumped from a second-story window when the flames flashed over.
The others sustained smoke inhalation crawling from the four-alarm blaze on Central Avenue after they became trapped.
Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost tells The Record newspaper it appears the fire began in the basement and reached the attic before anyone noticed.
As many as 25 people were displaced.
The cause is under investigation.
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