Thanksgiving Day Fires In Newark: Church Damaged, 9 Relocated

NEWARK, NJ — Newark firefighters battled a pair of Thanksgiving Day blazes, including a fire at an unoccupied church. The other fire, which took place at a two-family residence, left two children and seven adults without a home, authorities said.

Newark authorities are investigating both blazes, the Newark Department of Public Safety stated.

The home fire took place on the 200-block of Smith Street around 5 a.m. and was declared under control shortly after 6 a.m., officials said.

There were no reported injuries in the Smith Street fire; seven adults and two children were relocated due to the damage, authorities said.

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CHURCH FIRE

Around 7:22 a.m., a second fire was reported at First Way of the Cross Church on Clinton Street, which has been in the community since 1937 and runs a daily hot meal program that feeds 25 to 30 people.

Flames temporarily extended to a nearby residential structure during the fire, but the blaze was declared under control around 8 a.m., Newark authorities said.

The church was unoccupied at the time, authorities said.

The church interior sustained “moderate damage” and the nearby residential structure sustained “exterior damage,” officials stated.

ABC New York posted the below video of the fire.

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