Several area departments responded to a five-alarm fire at 102 Russell Avenue in Edgewater, NJ 1/21/15

UPDATE: Residents devastated by powerful blaze describe 'surreal' scene.

EDGEWATER -- Firefighters were battling a massive blaze at an apartment complex on Russell Avenue late Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The flames were reported around 4:30 p.m. at the Avalon Edgewater complex on Russell Avenue, according to police. Mutual aid fire crews were also called to assist. The Bergen County Office of Emergency Management as well as County Executive James Tedesco III were also on scene, a county spokeswoman said.

Residents were evacuated to a nearby school, a spokesman for Avalon said. There were no immediate reports of any injuries.

About 2,300 customers briefly lost power, a PSEG spokeswoman said, although about 2,100 had power restored by 9 p.m. The remaining customers are expected to see power restored once the fire has been contained, she also said.

Jimmy Smith, an employee at the Edgewater Golf Range a few blocks south on River Road from the residential complex, said the fire appeared to start small around 5 p.m. but quickly flared up and was still raging at around 8:15 p.m.

"I saw the fire trucks around 5, and then it just got worse and worse," said Smith, who said the business was closing early.

#BREAKING: Fire engulfs large apartment complex in New Jersey http://t.co/V7yHh5V9i2 pic.twitter.com/PfV2hMQ7xw — NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) January 21, 2015

Check back at nj.com/bergen for updates.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

