By: Richard L. Smith
Firefighters battled a stubborn early morning fire at a three-story residential building in Newark’s Upper West Ward that spread from the lower floors into the upper levels and through the roof.
The blaze broke out in the 60’s block of Valley Street, where arriving crews encountered heavy fire conditions.
As firefighters advanced hose lines into the structure, the fire extended from the lower floors to the upper levels, eventually breaking through the roof and prompting commanders to request additional resources.
Firefighters operated multiple hose lines while conducting searches of the building.
Authorities reported that primary searches were negative, and crews made progress containing the flames despite concerns about nearby structures located only a short distance away.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries during the incident and was treated.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No civilian injuries were immediately reported.