4 Fires, 1 Day: Several Newark Firefighters Injured Battling Blazes

NEWARK, NJ — Newark firefighters battled four fires in a single day last week, sustaining six, non-life-threatening injuries in the process, authorities say.

According to the Newark Department of Public Safety, the first of the blazes on Aug. 25 began around 5:17 p.m., when firefighters responded to a call at Welco Acetylene Corp., a one-story commercial building located at 321 Roanoke Avenue.

The fire was declared under control about 30 minutes after NFD personnel arrived, authorities said.

One victim, an employee of the business, received non-life threatening burns and was transported by EMS to University Hospital for treatment, authorities stated.

SETH BOYDEN HOUSING COMPLEX

The second fire of the night began around 5:36 p.m., when firefighters responded to a three-alarm fire on the 3rd floor of a vacant building in Seth Boyden Housing Complex.

The fire was brought under control at approximately 7 p.m., authorities said.

A separate, smaller fire on the 1st floor of another building in the same complex was extinguished by firefighters who were already on the scene, authorities stated.

According to public safety officials, six NFD firefighters received medical treatment for minor non-life threatening injuries while fighting the fires in Seth Boyden, with all being treated and released.

VIRGINIA STREET AND FRELINGHUYSEN AVE

The final conflagration of the night took place around 11:10 p.m., when firefighters responded to a vacant three-story warehouse on Virginia Street and Frelinghuysen Avenue, authorities said.

The fire was declared under control around 11:43 p.m., authorities said.

Emergency responders rescued two females and a male from the building and transported them to University Hospital. There were no reported injuries to the civilians or firefighters at this fire, authorities said.

The cause and origins of the four fires remain under investigation by the Arson Squads of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Newark Fire Division.