By: Richard L. Smith
Firefighters from the Maplewood Fire Department, along with mutual aid crews from the Millburn, Irvington, and Newark Fire Departments, battled a raging two-alarm house fire that tore through a residential section of Maplewood Saturday night.
Shortly before 10:20 p.m., Maplewood firefighters were dispatched to the 90s block of Jacoby Street after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting a fire inside a home.
Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy fire conditions, with flames fully engulfing the second floor of a two-story, wood-frame residence.
Due to the intensity and rapid spread of the fire, which threatened nearby homes, incident commanders requested mutual aid and quickly struck a second alarm.
Firefighters stretched multiple hose lines and worked aggressively to knock down the flames, which had already consumed much of the second floor, making interior access difficult.
Despite challenging conditions, crews were able to bring the fire under control in under an hour. 
A thorough search of the structure confirmed that no occupants were trapped or injured inside the home.
No serious injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.
The cause of the fire remains under an active and ongoing investigation by local authorities.