By: Richard L. Smith
Firefighters battled a fast-moving, multi-alarm fire late Friday night that tore through several buildings in the city’s Ironbound neighborhood, leaving multiple people injured and displacing residents.
According to preliminary information released by the Newark Public Safety Department, crews were dispatched just before 10:30 p.m. to 196 Jefferson Street after reports of a fire inside a mixed-use building with a commercial space on the ground floor and apartments above.
When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy fire in the rear upper portion of the structure, with flames already extending to neighboring buildings on both sides.
As conditions rapidly worsened, commanders struck a second alarm, followed by a third alarm, to bring in additional manpower and resources.
Officials said the fire quickly engulfed the primary building and spread to at least three adjacent structures. 
Firefighters deployed multiple hose lines and used aerial ladder trucks to attack the flames from above as part of an aggressive surround-and-drown operation.
Despite challenging conditions, crews were able to bring the blaze under control shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
Several firefighters and civilians were reported injured during the incident.
As of early Saturday morning, authorities had not released an exact number of those transported to local hospitals, but all reported injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
The cause of the fire remains under active investigation by the Newark Fire Division Arson Unit.
Officials say more information will be released as the investigation continues.