By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A Newark firefighter suffered burns to the face, hands and wrists while battling an early-morning apartment fire March 17, officials said.
• Crews responded to 319 Hawthorne Ave. around 3:59 a.m. and rescued an unresponsive man from a first-floor unit.
• The civilian victim was transported to a hospital in critical condition, while the firefighter was hospitalized in stable condition.
• The fire was brought under control within about 20 minutes, and the cause remains under investigation.
NEWARK, NJ — A Newark firefighter was injured while battling an early-morning apartment fire that also left one civilian in critical condition, according to city officials.
Firefighters were dispatched at approximately 3:59 a.m. March 17 to a reported fire at 319 Hawthorne Ave. Crews arriving on scene rescued an unresponsive man from a first-floor apartment, authorities said.
The victim was transported to University Hospital and was reported in critical condition. One firefighter was also taken to an area hospital after sustaining burns to the face, hands and wrists, and was listed in stable condition.
Officials said the fire was brought under control by about 4:18 a.m. Two residents were displaced and relocated following the incident.
The Newark Public Safety Department’s Arson Unit is investigating the cause of the fire.