Firefighters in Newark are on the scene battling a fire that's tearing through an abandoned building and extending to other homes in the city's lower West Ward.
At approximately 3:40 a.m., firefighters raced to the 200 block of Fairmount Avenue just at the border of Newark's Central and West Wards to investigate reports of a house fire.
Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy flames tearing through a home, with fire extending to neighboring buildings.
Initial reports from the scene indicated four homes affected by ferocious flames.
As of 4:30 a.m., no injuries were reported, and the blaze had not been brought under control.
Residents on Fairmount Avenue said they made multiple complaints to the city regarding squatters and drug activity around the home that were never answered.
The American Red Cross relocated about 18 adults and seven children.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but initially appeared that a vehicle fire extended to the house.
DEVELOPING