Fire rips through home, warehouse in East Newark; firefighters rescue dog

EAST NEWARK, N.J. (WABC) -- A fierce and fast-moving house fire ripped through a multi-family home in New Jersey Wednesday morning.

Firefighters in East Newark worked to tame the blaze around 4:30 a.m. at a duplex home and nearby warehouse. Everyone got out of alive and there was just one injury - to a dog.

"I just can't believe it that she's alive," the dog's owner said. "That fire was horrendous."

Zoey is a rescue dog. Now, she's getting a third chance at life after firefighters rescued her from the burning building and resuscitated her.

"She was up in that house for 50 minutes," Zoey's owner said. "She only weights 36 pounds, for 50 minutes inhaling all that smoke. It's a miracle that she's alive."

Flames shot out the top floor of the duplex. Just moments before, landlord Bob Kasyan got everyone out safely after seeing his house quickly fill with smoke.

"The hallway was filled with smoke, and then I went into the room and it was like really hot," Kasyan said.

Eyewitness News learned the fire started on the first floor and rapidly spread through hallways and upstairs. Then those flames jumped to the neighboring Department of Public Works garage.

Fire crews said one of the challenges this time of year are the temperatures outside, especially with the thick air.

"We feel the heat," East Newark chief Kenny Graham said. "It's pretty hot out here. It's pretty hot inside that building too. A lot of water."

Their heavy turnout gear increases their body temperature, so their goal is to stay hydrated and rotate the crews fighting that fire so no one gets injured, and they can do what they do best: make rescues.

"Lucky, I should change her name to Lucky," Zoey's owner said. "I can't believe it."

No other injuries were reported to residents or firefighters. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.