Authorities say that 60 people could be looking for new places to live after a fire left a large Perth Amboy apartment building with a total loss.
The fire was reported around 4:15 a.m. Thursday.
About 75 firefighters from several communities converged to fight the fire, which was out within about three hours, before the fire could spread to adjacent buildings on State Street.
They also rescued a baby who was thrown down from a fire escape -- one of around 30 children in the 12 apartments in the three-story building.
"I went out the window, was screaming, 'Fire, fire, fire!'" said Joseph Rodridguez, whose shouts awoke his neighbors. One of those neighbors, Noel Roman, carried Rodriguez' three-year-old daughter, Skyla, to safety.
Mayor Wilda Diaz said Thursday the biggest concern is getting prescription medications -- generally insulin and high blood pressure drugs -- to those who need them. The Red Cross has opened a shelter for the displaced residents at the Alexander F. Jankowski Community Center.
Fire officials tell the Asbury Park Press that the baby and four other tenants, a firefighter and a police officer were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
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