Firefighters find rooms empty after Route 46 motel blaze in Elmwood Park

UPDATE: All of the rooms were checked and no unaccounted for occupants were found after a hotel fire raged through a Route 46 motel in Elmwood Park.

Jerry DeMarco

04/16/2014 7:19 p.m.

The fire at the Red Carpet Inn quickly went to four alarms after beginning in the basement and shooting through the first floor around 1:30 p.m., emergency responders told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.

Five people were rescued via ladders through windows on the second floor as smoke and flames rolled through the three-story motel. All five sustained minor injuries, Acting Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno said.

“The back side of the building is possibly compromised,” one emergency responder told CLIFFVIEW PILOT around 2 p.m. “Evacuation tones were dropped and it’s going to defensive operations.”

Eventually, firefighters were able to return inside.

MIKE VILLANOVA shot this video:

Maywood, Rochelle Park, Fair Lawn, Saddle Brook and Clifton were among the companies that responded, he said.

Lodi, Paramus and Wallington remained on standby.

Route 46 was initially closed in both directions and then eastbound, causing huge backups.

PHOTOS: Damien Danis

Courtesy: DAVE L. CRAMER III

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