Authorities said shortly after 11pm last night, Newark Firefighters responded to a report of a large three story fire at 148 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The fire was immediately elevated to a second alarm with the arrival of the first firefighters who observed several burning residences with elevation to a third alarm shortly thereafter. Three of the residences were occupied and one was vacant.
Minutes before 12am, the fire was elevated to 4 alarms with more than 100 firefighters and 24 fire apparatuses dispatched to battle, three, three story wood frame residences and one, two-and-a half story new construction home all burning.
The fire was brought under control at approximately 2:38 this morning.
The Fire Division’s Community Service Unit and the American Red Cross are making arrangements to assist the 21 adults and 7 children displaced by the fire.
Two of the residences are likely to be damaged because of the severity of fire damage although a final determination will be made sometime today.
The cause and the origin of the fire are currently being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Investigation Unit and the Newark Fire Division’s Arson Squad.
A firefighter was taken to University Hospital for evaluation authorities said.
Anyone with information about the fire is urged to contact either agencies arson investigators.
PHOTO CREDIT: Newark Public Safety Department