2 Women Killed, 3 Others Hurt In Overnight Fire In Fair Lawn, NJ

FAIR LAWN, NJ (CBSNewYork) -- Two women were killed and two others were hurt in an overnight fire at a group home in Fair Lawn.

The blaze broke out around midnight at a house on Berkshire Road.

Four police officers who were first on the scene found flames shooting out the second-floor window and a woman screaming for help.

"She was hanging out the window," Officer Louis Vasquez told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "She was getting burned."

Vasquez and fellow officers Edward Egan and John Rovetto found a bed frame in the garage and used it as a ladder so Officer Juan Rodriguez could get on the roof of the garage and reach the victim.

"We were able to prop it up against the house. I held it on one side, Officer Egan held it on one side, and then we helped Officer Rodriguez up onto the roof," Vasquez told 1010 WINS' John Montone. "Luckily, she was able to get out in time."

"I just got next to her. I was telling her, 'I'm not going to let you go,'" Rodriguez said. "She was so scared that she was going to fall into the ground.

Rodriguez brought the woman down, injuring his foot in the process.

"This is one of those nights that you guys call us heroes, but basically we just are normal people doing our job," he said.

Earlier, Rovetto rushed in through the front door to find the other survivor, CBS2's Christine Sloan reported.

"She said there were three other people upstairs," he said. "I said, 'We'll try to get them out. We need to get you out right now, though.'"

The officers said they're sad they couldn't get to the two other women.

The house is owned by a group called the Alliance Against Homelessness. The executive director of the group said four women were living in the home and have what he described as psychiatric disabilities, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.

"They were always just nice people," neighbor Anthony Decaro said. "They would say hello to you and whatnot. So I feel bad, and I worry, too, that the nature of their disabilities might have made it difficult for them to get out."

The two women who were hurt were taken to the hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

Police say a space heater in an upstairs room caused the fire, Sloan reported.

Alliance Against Homelessness issued a statement saying it is "devastated by the deaths of two of our residents in Fair Lawn."

"Our clients are formerly homeless and struggle with the effects of mental illness and other disabilities," Executive Director David Moore said. "In this house there were four women, each had their own bedroom and lived independent lives. Some worked, most were comfortable with public transportation and they each pursued their own interests."

Moore said the names of victims are being withheld until their families have been notified.

"Please keep the other residents and staff in your thoughts and prayers as we struggle to get through this sad tragedy," he said. "We care about our clients very much and this has been quite difficult to deal with at this time."