Fire destroys N.J. buildings

By CNN's Guillaume Debre

IRVINGTON, New Jersey (CNN) -- A stubborn fire Wednesday burned two three-story buildings that included residential apartments and commercial businesses. One firefighter suffered slight injuries.

The blaze burned out of control for four hours, resulting in the collapse of a building containing 14 apartments and four commercial stores and so badly damaging an adjacent building that it also will have to come down, officials said.

All the apartment residents were safely evacuated.

One fire official who asked not to be named said the blaze was "presumed suspicious." Arson investigators were on the scene. Officially, the fire was said to be of undetermined origin.

"What is going to make this investigation difficult is the fact the building collapsed," said Irvington Fire Chief Donald Huber.

One firefighter was taken to Irvington General Hospital, treated for a hand injury and smoke inhalation and released, Huber said.

Some 60 firefighters, five ladder-companies and 10 engine-companies from the neighboring towns of Union, Maplewood, Newark, East Orange, Millburn, and Orange to contain the blaze.

The fire started at 8:34 a.m. When the firefighters arrived, all inhabitants had left the building, thanks to the help of workers of a local gas company who knocked on tenants' doors.

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