Firefighters in Union County battled a multi-alarm fire that destroyed a house in a section of Elizabeth on Wednesday morning.
Elizabeth firefighters were dispatched to 162 Jaques Street to investigate reports of a fire inside a home shortly before 2 a.m.
Upon arrival, fire officials struck a second, then a third alarm for manpower after they found heavy flames engulfing the two and a half wood-framed house.
Crews stretched multiple lines and began their attack on uncontrollable fire that tore through the structure's roof. Frozen hydrants hampered firefighters' efforts.
Early in the fire, the engine ran out of tank water, and for firefighters' safety, Elizabeth fire officials ordered all working members out of the building.
According to a preliminary investigation, the house appeared to be vacant, but crews were able to knock down enough of the flames to perform a complete search.
The search resulted in no burned victims or trapped occupants.
Officials believe squatters were inside the house attempting to get warm and may have ignited the blaze.
Several Union County municipalities provided mutual assistance during the fire.
The official cause of the fire is under investigation.