Four families were displaced today as a result of a three-alarm fire that ravaged two houses in the Jersey City Heights, officials said.

The fire began at 1:21 p.m. at 83 Bleecker St., a two-story wood frame building between Kennedy Boulevard and Pierce Street, but quickly spread to 83A Bleecker St., also a two-story house, Jersey City Fire Director Armando Roman said.

Jersey City firefighters, who responded within three minutes, described the blaze "like a torch coming out of the first and top floor," Roman said.

Residents were out of the building by the time firefighters arrived, he said.
The two houses suffered heavy fire, smoke and water damage and are uninhabitable at this point, he said.

In addition, 87 Bleecker St., which is across a vacant lot from 83A Bleecker, suffered residual damage from the radiant heat, Roman said. It burned off all of the aluminum siding and all of the windows were broken, he said.

The fire was under control by 2:53 p.m.