UPDATE 9:10 am: This is a confirmed fatal fire with one victim. A neighbor safely rescued two people.
Firefighters are on the scene battling a fire with at least one person severely injured inside a house in Union County.
Cranford firefighter raced to 23 Beech Street after receiving reports of a fire with possible trapped occupants.
Upon arrival, the crew observed heavy flames tearing through the roof of a wood-framed house.
Crews stretched several lines to beat down fire that began engulfing much of the single-family home.
After several minutes of extinguishing flames that poured through the structure's windows, firefighters made their way inside and found a badly injured person on the upper floors of the home.
As of 8:03 a.m., firefighters continued to hit hot spots while officials declared a second alarm for manpower.
Several Union County municipalities, including Linden, Westfield and Elizabeth, provided mutual assistance.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.