A raging fire engulfed and destroyed a row of homes in New Jersey, and officials are investigating whether squatters in a vacant home in the neighborhood are to blame for the inferno.
The Irvington and Newark Fire Department responded to the massive three-alarm fire in Newark on Tuesday at around 5 p.m., according to ABC 7.
The flames tore through five homes on Montgomery Ave — about 6 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport — and caused a dense cloud of black smoke that could be seen from 20 miles away.
As the fire raged on, the flames spread to trees around the homes, a utility pole and a car in a driveway.
Firefighters were seen working relentlessly to get the fast-moving fire under control but faced multiple challenges while battling the inferno.
Officials said firefighters experienced low water pressure, with at least one dead hydrant. In addition, strong winds made it difficult for them to get the blaze under control, ABC 7 reported.
Firefighters were able to get the flames under control just before 7 p.m.
An elderly man was taken to University Hospital for a health issue unrelated to the fire, but no other injuries were reported.
The damage, however, destroyed the five homes and left nine families, including 27 adults and four children, homeless.
The fire sparked from a vacant home in the middle of the residential street, began bleeding through the roof, and spread to the nearby houses.
Fire officials are investigating whether the massive blaze was caused by squatters possibly occupying the vacant home, ABC 7 reported.
An unidentified individual told the outlet that complaints had previously been filed about the squatters shacking up in the abandoned home.
A young mother who was displaced by the fire — along with her infant son — recalled the moment she saw the blaze break out.
“He was sleeping and I was taking off my clothes to go take a shower,” Nallande Jean told ABC 7.
“I was tired and I just laid down a little bit. I hear someone slap my door, tell me, ‘Hey!’”
Jean said she then grabbed her son and rushed out of her home for safety.
While residents are grateful no one was hurt or killed during the raging inferno, they are now left trying to figure out what to do next after watching their homes go up in smoke.
“We have the families that we’re starting to gather information from and take care of them with their needs,” a member of the American Red Cross, Mike Minell, told the outlet.
“Especially with their immediate needs tonight.”