Six firefighters were hurt while battling a massive fire in Newark that began late Friday night and lasted several hours, Newark’s Public Safety Director said Saturday. The flames forced nearly 60 people from their homes.
The fire sparked just before 10:30 p.m. along Jefferson St. near Warwick St., one block west of Independence Park. Over 100 firefighters responded.
“The fire was up over the top of the building and it was nighttime so you could really see that view,” said neighbor Tyrone Gaskins.
Officials say the fire started at one building, then spread to four others. A witness told NBC New York that when he saw the smoke and flames he race inside to wake up his neighbors, so they could get out.
“Soon as I’d seen the flames, I just ran over there,” said Jose Marte. “I’m not a firefighter, but I ran over there and just started helping everybody out as much as I can.” Marte saw the flames to jump to another building. “As soon as we got everybody out, it spread over there.”
Authorities say none of the firefighers’ injuries are serious and no one else was hurt.
The American Red Cross said it’s assisting nine families with financial aid for temporary lodging.
Freddy Sánchez says everything in his third-floor apartment is gone. The water sprayed by firefighters flooded his bakery on the first floor floor. Sánchez has been in the same building for 25 years. In Spanish, a visibly shaken Sánchez told News 4 that he’s ready to rebuild his life.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation Saturday, according to Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda.
Later Saturday, neighbors were seen helping clean up debris on from the fire that piled up on the sidewalk.
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