Three residents who were home at the time the blaze escaped without injury, according to Belleville Fire Capt. Frank Papaianni.
BELLEVILLE -- Three residents safely escaped a township house fire this weekend but a dog died in the blaze, an official said.
Belleville Fire Capt. Frank Papaianni said the fire in a two-story home on Belmont Avenue started around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night. The fire started in a couch in the rear of the home and extended to the second floor, Papaianni said.
Fire crews battle Belleville blaze (PHOTOS)
One of the two men upstairs escaped through the first floor, while the other exited onto an awning from the second floor and came down a ladder with the help of police, Papaianni said.
An elderly woman on the first floor who had been sleeping was helped out of the building by neighbors, Papaianni said.
Papaianni said firefighters tried to save the dog, a Rottweiler mix, on the second floor of the home but those attempts were not successful.
Erin O'Neill may be reached at eoneill@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LedgerErin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.