Firefighters from multiple agencies battled a two-alarm blaze on 5th Street in Lakewood on Tuesday night after a vacant home became fully engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to a second vacant structure.
The property, long used annually for kapparos prior to Yom Kippur, went up in flames shortly after 9 pm. Thick smoke and heavy fire were visible as responders arrived, prompting a rapid escalation to a second alarm due to the close proximity of other homes along the densely built residential block.
The blaze quickly jumped to another vacant house, forcing firefighters to extend their efforts to prevent further spread.
After more than an hour and under harsh conditions, firefighters from multiple agencies managed to get the fire under control, sparing countless nearby homes and lives.
Despite the intensity of the fire, no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is not yet known and is under investigation. However, the structure has been known to be a place where squatters often gathered.
