SOFD Helps West Orange with Two-Alarm Fire on Washington Street

Residents shivered in the cold as they watched South Orange and West Orange firefighters battle a two-alarm blaze in their apartment building on Washington Street Thursday night.  South Orange Fire Department provided mutual aid to their West Orange counterparts.

The fire erupted on the first floor of the building around 9:20 p.m., according to fire officials on scene. No injuries were initially reported.

Washington Street between Watchung and High Streets were blocked by police as firetrucks lined the road and onlookers stood by. The building's door had been removed and was propped up against a utility pole. Debris could be seen littering the stairway.

Residents evacuated from the second and third floor of the wood-frame dwelling said the first floor is rented as office space. They said no one was on the first floor when the fire broke out.

"All I was thinking was I have to come out," said Levi Arevalo, 33, who lives on the second floor with his wife and daughter. "I could see smoke coming in the hallway."

Resident Martin DaSilva, 25, said he heard the fire alarm go off and saw heavy smoke from his third floor apartment.

Both Arevalo and DaSilva, along with a handful of other residents, will be forced to find new shelter for the night.

Deputy Fire Chief Paul O'Connor said the fire damaged the first floor and part of the second floor. He said the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.