Electrical Short Sparked Perth Amboy Fire

An electrical short was in Perth Amboy that destroyed four buildings and left over 50 people homeless.

Perth Amboy Fire Chief David Volk told the Star Ledger that the problem with the electricity originated at 660 Cortlandt Street and quickly spread to the other buildings.

The which were mutli-family dwellings. Three of the four buildings collapsed or were on the verge of collapse from the blaze.

The massive early-morning fire left 47 people homeless, and nine people either treated or hospitalized for their injuries, Mayor Wilda Diaz said in a message about the tragedy on the city's website.

One couple was admitted to Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston for second and third degree burns, while their young son was treated and released to relatives, the Star Ledger reported.

Some of the residents - 12 families and 10 children, Diaz said in a statement - made homeless by the June 3 blaze were being housed at the Olive Street Community Center.

A citywide effort to help the victims is being conducted by Perth Amboy's administration, in collaboration with the Perth Amboy-based Jewish Renaissance Foundation (JRF). 

Checks and money orders should be made out to JRF-Cortlandt St. Fire Fund. They can be mailed, along with gift cards to places such as supermarkets and department stores, to:

The Jewish Renaissance Foundation
Attn:  Cortlandt Street Fire Fund
149 Kearny Avenue
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861

Donations can also be made online via a special Paypal account set up for the fire victims.

The mayor said in her statement that because of storage constraints, no physical items are being accepted for the relief effort. 

For more information on how to help, call the mayor's office at 732-826-7121 or the JRF at 732-324-2114 ext. 125.