NEWARK, NJ – A significant fire swept through a multi-use building at 263 South Orange Avenue, prompting a robust response from Newark firefighters on Tuesday, July 16. The three-story, brick building, which houses both businesses and residences, was the scene of a 3-alarm fire that also affected neighboring structures at 261 and 265 South Orange Avenue.
The Newark Fire Department was alerted to the blaze around 12:14 p.m., with fire visible on the first floor and quickly spreading to the second and third floors. The escalation of the fire led to the declaration of a second alarm at 12:48 p.m. and a third alarm by 1:45 p.m.
Due to the day’s high temperatures, three firefighters were taken to University Hospital to be evaluated for heat exhaustion. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported. In total, 35 adults and 16 children were displaced by the fire.
The fire was declared under control by 3:38 p.m. Firefighting units from East Orange, Montclair, Orange, Verona, Millburn, Irvington, and Jersey City provided mutual aid, assisting in the efforts to extinguish the fire and manage the scene.
