By: Richard L. Smith
Two residents sustained severe injuries in a fire that broke out in the Northfield Townhouses in West Orange early Tuesday morning.
The fire, which started around 12:25 a.m. at 595 Northfield Avenue, quickly escalated, prompting firefighters to strike second and third alarms for additional manpower as the flames appeared to spread to adjacent units.
Upon arriving at the scene, firefighting crews encountered significant flames from one of the residences.
They rapidly entered the building and rescued two unconscious individuals from inside.
Immediate CPR was administered before the victims were transported to a nearby hospital for further medical care. As of 4:30 a.m., their condition was reported as severe.
The fire was successfully contained and knocked down in under an hour, but the cause of the blaze remains under active investigation.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office has been notified of the incident.
