Newark Firefighters ‘Likely Saved Man’s Life,’ Official Says

NEWARK, NJ — Newark firefighters prevented a North Ward apartment blaze from causing an evacuation and rescued a 60-year-old victim from the building earlier this week, authorities say.

Firefighters responded to 801 North 6th Street around 3:39 a.m. on Monday, according to a joint statement from Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose and Fire Chief Rufus Jackson.

On arrival, firefighters found a 60-year old male burn victim in the hallway of the apartment building where the fire occurred, authorities said.

Emergency responders transported the victim to St. Barnabas Medical Center for treatment.

Firefighters put the fire under control at 3:58 a.m. and determined that the fire and residual smoke were contained to one room inside the apartment.

The building’s tenants were not evacuated, officials said.

Ambrose commended the efforts of the firefighters who likely saved the victim’s life and that of others in the building.

“If this fire wasn’t quickly extinguished, it would have surely spread to other parts of the building and put others and their property at risk,” Ambrose stated.

The exact cause of the fire is being investigated by the arson units of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and Newark Fire Division. Anyone with information about the incident can call the department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867).

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