JERSEY CITY - Firefighters are battling a devastating blaze on Grant Avenue tonight.

The four-alarm fire at 21 Grant Ave. critically injured one man and an infant has been hospitalized after being pulled from the home, Fire Chief Steven McGill said at the scene.

Firefighters arrived at the blaze just after 7 p.m., but hours later the fire was still not under control. The entire block was covered in smoke, making it difficult to breathe.

McGill said the male victim -- whose injuries are considered life threatening -- was pulled from the basement of the three-story building, where the fire is believed to have started. Early reports indicated a 6-month-old child was not breathing when first responders arrived on scene. The child has since been brought to the hospital with injuries that are not considered life threatening, McGill said.

The victim with the most serious injuries was intubated and transported to Jersey City Medical Center with burns on his body. The fire was so heavy in the basement, firefighters struggled to get inside, McGill said.

One firefighter was also being treated for burns he suffered while battling the blaze. A third resident injured his hand coming down the fire escape, McGill said.

Nicole Bourne, standing outside covered by a blanket, said her husband was the man who was injured escaping the building. She said he broke his fingers trying to pull the ladder down so he could make it out of their third-floor apartment.

"Everything, everything, everything, I lost," Bourne said. "Me and my family are okay but I got to start all over again."

She said smoke detectors went off inside the building and everyone started screaming to get out. Her small dog, Cocoa, was missing and feared dead.

The fire is directly across the street from where a deadly blaze broke out in 2014, killing four people.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.