3-Alarm Fire In Union Co. Spread To Neighboring House Sunday

ELIZABETH, NJ — A three-alarm fire broke out in a house on Cherry Street in Elizabeth Sunday afternoon, spreading to a neighboring house, according to the Elizabeth Fire Department.

The initial call came into the fire department at approximately 3 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire at the two houses.

Several firefighters were treated for heat-related issues and minor injuries, most at the scene. Some were brought to the hospital, treated and released.

Nobody had to be rescued.

A big obstacle for firefighters that day was the high temperatures, officials said.

It took over three hours to get the fire under control.

The Battalion Chief who arrived first on the scene called a second alarm on arrival due to the advanced fire condition and extension to the neighboring house.

A third alarm was called around 5 p.m., to bring additional manpower to the scene to allow the initial firefighters on scene time to rest, rehab and hydrate.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, officials said.