JERSEY CITY -- Authorities are searching for a man they say was seen running from a Wednesday night fire that left one person critically injury and sent a baby to the hospital.
The four-alarm fire at 21 Grant Ave. displaced 20 residents and injured a total of four people, officials said. Firefighters battled the blaze for more than three hours before placing the fire under control
Firefighters were called to the three-story home near Ocean Avenue at about 7 p.m. They found heavy fire conditions in the basement and a man suffering burns to 20 percent of his body, city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said.
A firefighter burned his face while trying to rescue the man from the basement, but has since been released from the hospital.
Officials say a second man was inside the basement when the fire started and fled from the home.
"The other adult man got out and took off before the (firefighters) and investigators could do an interview," Chief Steve McGill said at the scene Wednesday night.
Firefighters also rescued a "distressed" 6-month-old child from the building. The baby was treated at the scene and then brought to the hospital for treatment, officials said.
Two refugee families from the East African country of Eritrea lived in the home, advocates say. They are raising money to held them recover.
Alain Mentha, who volunteers with Welcome Home Jersey City, said that twice in the past three months someone had stolen copper and other valuable pieces from the boiler located in the basement of the building.
Officials have not released details about what caused the fire and it's unclear if a faulty boiler played any role in the blaze.
Nicole Bourne, who stood with a blanket wrapped around her at the scene Wednesday night, said he husband broke some of his fingers fleeing the building on the fire escape. Her dog was missing while firefighters continued to extinguish the blaze.
"Everything, everything, everything, I lost," Bourne said. "Me and my family are okay but I got to start all over again."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jersey City Fire Department's Arson Unit at 201-547-4259.
Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.