(Newark-WABC, October 25, 2004) -- A major fire has left extensive damage to several buildings in Newark overnight. At one point it even threatened to spread to a firehouse across the street.
The homes involved in this blaze were on Ferry Street and they homes 468-476. All of them were damaged by this overnight fire that officials have already labeled as suspicious.
The fire broke out at 10:30 p.m. last night and it quickly spread to four alarms in the row homes that all shared the same attic. The fire started in the center of the five row homes and then spread through the attic spaces in both directions. The three center row homes were vacant but the end units were occupied. Now the Red Cross is lending a helping hand to the six families that were left homeless by the fire.
There was just one injury in this fire with one person injured in the rush to escape this fire. One firefighter suffered cuts and bruises but he is now alright. The flames spread so quickly that once firefighters got inside the building they were then suddenly ordered to get out.
Chief Joe Damasi, Newark Fire Department: "When we got in there the fire was going through the roof already. We then had an emergency evacuation on the second alarm. The units were inside the building, but because the building collapsed in the rear it was an emergency evacuation."
A vacant building and a fast-moving fire, put those two together and you have got a suspicious fire and now arson investigators are looking into the cause of this blaze.
Meanwhile, the firehouse was literally across the street from this blaze. It is truck company number eight, engine company number 16. Investigators had two firefighters on the roof to put out embers that went from across the street onto the firehouse. But today, the firehouse is alright.
