Blown-out windows are all that remain after a fire sparked Monday morning on East 15th Street in Bayonne.

The fire started just around 10:30 a.m. The fire chief says more than a dozen people were forced out of three homes. One of those people had to be saved from a third-floor window.

"We do ladder rescues for trapped victims from time to time, and we certainly train often. It's a manpower-intensive operation," said Bayonne Fire Chief Keith Weaver.

A fire call ended up being a call to save a life.

Video from Bayonne's Office of Emergency Management shows a firefighter rescuing a man from the burning home and bringing him to safety.

Officials say the victim was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. He is expected to be OK.

A total of 16 people from seven families were displaced. The American Red Cross is helping those families. It's unclear when they will be back allowed inside their homes.

Fire officials believe the fire started at 19 East 15th St. and spread to the homes next door.

"There's heavy fire on arrival extending mainly to the building to the right side. So that's basically two buildings on fire on arrival with the victim hanging out,” said Weaver. “So again, it requires a lot of reinforcement. That's why the extra alarms were called to bring more personnel to the scene.”

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.