Large Fire In East Orange Leaves 12 People Without A Home: Officials

EAST ORANGE, NJ — A dozen people were left without a home after a large fire spread to three houses in East Orange on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

A city spokesperson said the four-alarm fire broke out at 4:18 a.m. at 135 Amherst Street in East Orange and quickly spread to three neighboring houses at 131, 137 and 139 Amherst Street. The home where the fire started is believed to be vacant, but the other homes were occupied.

A total of 12 residents from three families have been displaced and are currently receiving assistance from Red Cross and CERT, officials said.

There were no injuries, authorities said.

A total of 80 firefighters — which included all East Orange Fire Department companies and mutual aid from Newark, Bloomfield, Montclair and Orange — responded to the scene to battle the blaze. South Essex, Millburn and Belleville covered East Orange firehouses.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, authorities said.

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