A devastating early morning fire ripped through a four-story apartment building on Monticello Avenue in Jersey City, leaving more than 30 residents displaced and prompting an ongoing arson investigation. The fire, which erupted just before 6 a.m. on Wednesday, is believed to have started in the building’s basement, quickly sending heavy smoke through every floor and forcing residents, including children and pets, to flee using fire escapes.

The cause of the blaze remains unknown, but mounting suspicion among tenants has drawn increased attention to the possibility of foul play. One tenant, Angel Alvarado, revealed that his doorbell camera had been deliberately covered with duct tape the night before the fire. Video footage captured someone hiding their face with paper as they obscured the camera around 11:22 p.m., just hours before the fire broke out. This has led many residents to question whether the fire was intentionally set.

Fire alarms rang out just before dawn, waking dozens of tenants who scrambled for safety as thick black smoke filled hallways. Firefighters responded quickly to the scene and began a series of rescues, pulling trapped individuals from inside the building and helping families down fire escapes. At least 25 people, including babies and several pets, were brought to safety by emergency responders. Two residents were hospitalized, with one suffering from smoke inhalation, while a firefighter sustained a shoulder injury during the response.

For many tenants, the fire was the latest in a long string of issues tied to building safety and management negligence. Residents claim that repeated maintenance complaints went unanswered by building managers. Photos and videos shared by tenants show evidence of prior issues, including electrical outages affecting entire floors and a broken security entrance that remained unfixed despite numerous warnings. One resident reported having text messages with the management documenting unresolved safety hazards in the building.

Following the fire, two men seen near the site were questioned by fire investigators. When asked if they were associated with the property, both denied involvement. However, they were reportedly observed speaking with officials multiple times throughout the day. This has only deepened suspicion among tenants, who feel their concerns about mismanagement and safety have long been ignored.

Several residents now find themselves without shelter, and the building has been rendered uninhabitable due to extensive smoke and fire damage. With no alternative housing offered, some tenants expressed frustration over continuing to pay rent to landlords who they claim have not upheld basic standards of care. “They collected our rent, but now we have no place to live,” one resident said, echoing the frustrations of many displaced by the blaze.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Arson Task Force has launched an investigation into the fire, examining both the cause and potential evidence of criminal intent. Authorities have not confirmed whether arson is officially suspected, but statements from multiple residents have pointed to deliberate action as a possibility. Officials have pledged to release further information as the investigation progresses.

For now, the residents of 374 Monticello Avenue are left to pick up the pieces, grappling not just with the loss of their homes but also with the lingering questions about how such a devastating fire could have started under such suspicious circumstances. As investigators work to determine what sparked the blaze, tenants continue to seek accountability from building management and assurance that their safety will no longer be compromised.