3 Firefighters Injured, 18 Displaced By Newark Fire That Damaged 3 Homes
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A raging fire in Newark ripped through several homes, causing extensive damage and injuring three firefighters.
The blaze broke out around 10 p.m. Friday on Ridge Street near Second Avenue and spread to the homes on each side, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.
The flames were so intense, the top two floors of the first home collapsed, completely gutting the place.
Neighbors said they saw the flames, ran outside and started knocking on doors, helping to evacuate people.
Those inside were able to escape unharmed, but 18 people have been displaced.
One neighbor said she was just thankful everyone got out OK.
"Nobody was hurt, but everybody was shaking, everybody praying because they're from church; all those people over there, they're church people. So, every body was praying, the kids were crying hysterically," said neighbor Evi Ramos.
Neighbors said one man lives at the home where the fire started and that he wasn't home at the time. They also said the house was being renovated.
Two firefighters were treated at hospitals for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation, while another suffered a hand laceration.
It's still unclear what sparked the fire.
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