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Woman Rescued As Fire Spreads To 3 Buildings In Passaic, N.J.

PASSAIC, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Firefighters rescued a woman Tuesday from an extra-alarm blaze that swept through three homes in Passaic, New Jersey.

Firefighters were called around 5:30 p.m. to 11 Rosz Pl. in Passaic, according to Passaic Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost.

The fire spread to neighboring buildings at 9 and 15 Rosz Pl. and went to four alarms, Trentacost said. About 90 firefighters from Bergen and Passaic counties were called to the scene.

Firefighters found a woman screaming from the third-floor window of the first burning building, and put up a ladder to rescue her, Trentacost said.

Hose lines were also put in place to get water between the woman and the fire, Trentacost said. If those efforts had not been undertaken, the woman may have died, he said.

"She was exposed directly to flame. Her life was certainly in jeopardy," Trentacost said. "The guys made a quick decision, put a ladder up, and they were able to execute a quick rescue and they saved her life."

The woman was injured, but conscious when she was taken to an area hospital in an ambulance, Trentacost said.

Two firefighters were also hospitalized with what was believed to be heat exhaustion, he said.

The fire was under control by the early evening hours, Trentacost said.

The investigation into the cause of the fire was under way Tuesday evening.

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