Fire in Newark, New Jersey burns several homes – NBC10 Philadelphia

A major fire damaged five New Jersey homes after images from above showed huge flames shooting from the tops of buildings, threatening to spread to the rest of the residential neighborhood.

The fire broke out at a home on Montgomery Street, on the Newark-Irvington line, shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Frage. The Newark Division of Fire and the Irvington Fire Department responded to the fire, which spread to four other nearby homes a short time later.

When firefighters arrived, they said they initially had difficulty getting water from the fire hydrant to put out the flames. A hose was extended about a quarter of a mile to reach a working fire hydrant.

“For them to have to take fire hoses all the way to Springfield Avenue, for me to walk past three firefighters with fire hoses on their damn shoulders, that’s unacceptable,” said community activist Donna Jackson, who stressed that the decline in water pressure in the region is unacceptable. something the city has known for years.

“We still have a list of over 700 fire hydrants out of the 1,000 we have in the city that have not been replaced. How?” Jackson said. “Where is the mayor? You need to come see these people and find out why there is no water here.”

The fire was brought under control shortly before 7 p.m., approximately two hours after the flames started.

A man was injured and taken to University Hospital for treatment, but the extent of his injuries is unclear. No other injuries were reported.

Nine families, including 26 adults and four children, are expected to be relocated following the fire, according to Frage.

Authorities were investigating what might have sparked the flames.