Fire in Newark's Ironbound Displaces 58 People

A four-alarm fire ripped through Newark's Ironbound neighborhood in the city's East Ward early Saturday morning, leaving 58 people displaced, according to fire officials.

Newark Fire Capt. John Brown said the blaze broke out around 1 a.m. at 198 Ferry St. and engulfed five buildings until it was placed under control around 7:41 a.m.

Brown said two people suffered minor injuries, one a firefighter. Both were taken to University Hospital. He said the buildings are "severely damaged."

The fire captain said three people were rescued in the fire, including one ready to jump from a window.

Of the 58 displaced, Brown said 54 will stay with family or friends and the American Red Cross will relocate the other four.

Around noon Saturday, authorities had Ferry Street crisscrossed with yellow police tape as fire officials investigated the cause. Newark fire trucks lined the street and one had its ladder extended towards a green vinyl-sided apartment building at the corner of Ferry and Polk streets, but it appeared as though firefighters had finished battling the blaze.

The fire started in that building and then spread to 196, 192 and 190 Ferry St., as well as 127 Polk St., according to Brown. Those addresses primarily are commercial buildings with street-level businesses and apartments on top.

Throughout the night, onlookers posted videos and photos to the social networking site Twitter. One video posted around 2 a.m. by the user "djlilcee" shows police and fire activity. Kristian Bauer, of Jersey City, tweeted around 3 a.m., "Woah. Just got home from @therealTDH concert and we can see a fire in Newark from our apt. According to the twitters, it's a 4 alarm."

During the large fire, another fire in the city's Ironbound broke out at 679 Ferry St. around 2:45 a.m. Brown said that one-alarm fire set ablaze cargo trailers and "a couple" cars. No injuries were reported in that incident and the cause is under investigation.

Brown said Newark Fire Department received assistance for both fires from Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, East Orange, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Livingston, Millburn, Nutley, Orange, South Orange, Verona and West Orange. 

This is a breaking news story. Continue to check Patch for updates.