An intense overnight house fire tore through a West Orange residence early Friday, leaving two occupants with minor injuries and forcing an aggressive, multi-company firefighting response that continued into the pre-dawn hours.
Emergency units were summoned to the neighborhood just after midnight when callers reported flames and thick smoke pouring from a single-family home. Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy fire already consuming sections of the structure, prompting commanders to quickly upgrade the incident to a two-alarm assignment in order to bring in additional personnel and equipment.
Firefighters advanced hose lines into the home while ladder companies worked to ventilate the building and slow the spread of heat toward nearby properties. Crews also conducted rapid searches to ensure no one remained inside. Two residents were located, escorted safely out of the home, and evaluated by emergency medical personnel at the scene. Both were later transported to a local hospital as a precaution, where they were treated for minor injuries and listed in stable condition.
The blaze caused extensive damage, rendering large portions of the house unlivable. With personal belongings damaged and essential utilities compromised, the displaced occupants were connected with local relief organizations to arrange temporary housing and immediate assistance.
Residents in the surrounding area reported being awakened by sirens and the glow of flames reflecting off nearby homes. Fire companies remained on scene for several hours after the main body of fire was knocked down, carefully extinguishing lingering hot spots and monitoring for any signs of rekindling.
Fire officials have launched an investigation to determine what caused the blaze. No official findings have been released, and damage assessments are still underway as inspectors examine the structure.
Ongoing developments, neighborhood safety alerts, and additional community reporting from across the state can be followed through Sunset Daily’s news coverage as more information becomes available.
