Newark, NJ – Nearly 60 residents remain displaced days after a fast-moving three-alarm fire tore through multiple buildings in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood, injuring six firefighters and destroying homes late Friday night, officials said.
The blaze broke out around 10:30 p.m. April 17 at 196 Jefferson Street and quickly spread to four adjacent structures, forcing families to flee as flames engulfed a row of mixed residential and commercial buildings.
Families forced out overnight as fire spreads block to block
More than 100 firefighters responded as the fire jumped between closely packed buildings, many of them multi-family homes.
By the time crews brought the flames under control around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, five buildings had been impacted and 59 people were left without housing, according to Newark officials.
Six firefighters were transported to University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No residents were reported hurt, but many escaped with little more than what they could carry.
Witnesses described flames moving rapidly through the structures, leaving some families with total losses.
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Key Points
• 59 Newark residents displaced after fire spreads across five Ironbound buildings
• Six firefighters injured while battling overnight three-alarm blaze
• Red Cross and city agencies assisting families with housing and aid
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Relief efforts underway for displaced residents
Emergency support services have been mobilized to assist those forced out of their homes.
The American Red Cross is working with the Newark Office of Emergency Management to provide temporary shelter, food, clothing, and emergency financial assistance.
Displaced residents can access help through:
- American Red Cross New Jersey Region for shelter, supplies, and recovery planning
- Newark Office of Emergency Management for relocation coordination and local support
- University Hospital services for any follow-up medical needs related to the incident
Officials said caseworkers are helping families secure short-term housing and begin the process of longer-term recovery.
Community response builds in Ironbound
The Ironbound neighborhood, known for its dense housing and tight-knit community, has begun organizing informal support efforts alongside official aid.
Neighbors and local groups have started collecting donations, including clothing, toiletries, and basic household items, for those who lost belongings in the fire.
The scale of displacement—nearly 60 people from a single block—has intensified the need for both immediate relief and sustained assistance in the coming weeks.
Cause under investigation
The Newark Department of Public Safety’s Arson Unit is investigating what sparked the fire, though no cause has been publicly identified.
Officials have not indicated whether the fire started in a residential unit or commercial space within the building at 196 Jefferson Street, which served as the origin point.
What happens next
Displaced residents remain in temporary housing as officials assess structural damage and determine when, or if, buildings can be reoccupied.
The investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing, and no timeline has been given for findings as recovery efforts continue across the affected Ironbound block.