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UPDATE: Investigators were trying to determine the cause of a three-alarm overnight fire in a mixed use building in Rutherford.
No injuries were reported in the blaze, which broke out at just before 3 a.m. in a Park Avenue building across from the train station that houses the Eros Cafe and After Athens restaurant and drew firefighters and EMS workers from nearly a dozen towns.
It apparently began in the basement and quickly spread, emergency workers at the scene said.
Firefighters who contained the fire to the one three-story building while battling icy condtions had to withdraw quickly after the interior became unstable.
The second floor eventually collapsed and flames shot through the roof.
VIDEO courtesy Skyler Fire:
Salt trucks helped melt ice from runoff and a warming tent provided some relief from the frigid weather.
Firefighters had the blaze under control in a little over an hour. They continued pouring water from ladder trucks on hot spots as morning broke.
Assistance was provided by Carlstadt, East Rutherford, North Arlington, Teaneck, Wallington and Wood-Ridge firefighters, as well as by the Rutherford First Aid Ambulance Corps and the Moonachie First Aid and Rescue Squad.
PHOTO: Courtesy RON BOMBARO
PHOTOS: CLIFFVIEW PILOT Correspondent Damien Danis
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