"As soon as the water hit any surface, it froze," City Deputy Chief Kevin McCann.
NEW BRUNSWICK - Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire in an apartment building for four hours Thursday night as temperatures dipped below 20 degrees.
The fire broke out just after 7 p.m. and tore through the three-story building, burning through the roof, according to New Brunswick Deputy Chief Kevin McCann. Emergency responders were still on scene on Throop Avenue until 2:20 a.m.
The freezing temperatures, which dropped into the teens, made it difficult for firefighters in New Brunswick as hoses froze during while battling the blaze, McCann said.
"As soon as the water hit any surface, it froze," he said. "It was treacherous."
One firefighter was injured, who slipped and fell on the ice.
The fire was under control under by around 11 p.m. Twenty-one people made it out of the apartment building on their own, McCann said.
The Red Cross provided assistance for 42 people displaced by the blaze. The ten families were brought to a New Brunswick fire station to warm up and meet with Red Cross volunteers.
"Our sympathies are with the families affected by last evening's fire during this difficult time," said Ana Montero, regional CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region.
It was unclear how the fire started. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, McCann said.
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.