Nearly 70 people displaced after massive fire rips through homes in Newark
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- Nearly 70 people, including 18 children, lost their homes after a massive fire ripped through homes in Newark.
Flames started just after 1 a.m. Sunday on Woodside Avenue in the back of one of the homes. Everyone on the block was awoken by a loud bang.
"At first I thought it was a car crash, then I heard a lot more banging," said Maria De Leon.
Fanned by a fierce wind, the fire ripped through three more buildings, going to three alarms and sending 13 families running out into the freezing cold with whatever they could grab.
"All they know is the smoke alarm went off and they all ran out. And I seen them freezing out here and my wife took them in," said Rafael De Leon.
Rafael says they took in one family until the Red Cross took them to a temporary shelter at a recreation center. His sister, Maria, says this is the worst thing to happen on the block in the 50 years she has lived there. However, she is grateful everyone made it out alive.
"But it was horrible. The flames were coming up, but I think what made it worse was the wind. The wind just kept dragging it that way," Maria said.
Two firefighters and two other adults were treated for injuries and are now out of the hospital.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
