Cats Lose Homes During Newark Fire, Community Builds New Ones

NEWARK, NJ — Several cats lost their makeshift homes after a fire torched an abandoned warehouse in Newark on Saturday, but community members have come together to build them new shelters, according to a local resident.

According to the Newark Department of Public Safety, around 10:10 a.m., about 60 Newark firefighters responded to the scene of a fire on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a three-story, vacant commercial building at 14 Garden Street.

The flames took out power lines and cut electricity to about 1,200 homes in the Ironbound section of the city, News 12 New Jersey reported.

The fire was put under control at 1:29 p.m. A trio of firefighters were transported to University Hospital and treated for minor injuries, Newark authorities said.

• See related article: Newark Cops Seek Man On BMX Seen At Scene Of Fire (VIDEO)

According to Jerry Spilatro, an Essex County resident who is active in the local animal rescue community, the fire also displaced seven cats that lived in totes outside the building. However, several community members have since come together and built new shelters for the felines, Spilatro said.

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Main Photos: Jerry Spilatro