Firefighters in South Orange, New Jersey, responded to a large fire Saturday that spread across multiple buildings in the downtown area, with dramatic video capturing crews climbing through a third-floor window during a rescue attempt as flames and smoke poured from the structure, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The fire broke out Saturday afternoon at mixed-use commercial and residential buildings along East South Orange Avenue.
Video footage recorded by witnesses shows thick smoke rising from the structures while emergency crews worked to reach residents on the upper floors.
NJ firefighters rescue woman through top floor window of high-rise in dramatic video Dramatic footage shows the moment New Jersey firefighters rush through a third-story window to rescue a woman inside as an inferno ripped through the building Saturday. … https://t.co/bY3OlYp5NK [2] pic.twitter.com/qEe97zvofx [3]
— NahBabyNah (@NahBabyNahNah) March 15, 2026 [4]
At one point during the incident, a woman was seen leaning out of a top-floor window of one of the buildings, calling for help as firefighters maneuvered a ladder truck into position below.
Video obtained by The Post shows the woman appearing at the window while flames and smoke continued to spread through parts of the building.
“Like that person needs to get the f–k out of that building,” a witness can be heard saying in the footage.
Shortly afterward, the woman closed the window. Within minutes, firefighters used a ladder to reach the opening and broke the window before climbing into the apartment as part of a search effort.
However, according to fire officials, the woman had already exited the building on her own by the time firefighters entered the apartment.
South Essex Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Chris Ariemma said firefighters conducted a search of the unit after entering through the window, but did not find the woman inside.
“We did make entry into the apartment, and the guys searched, and when they finished their search, she wasn’t there,” Ariemma told The Post on Sunday. “She got herself out before we did.”
The blaze involved at least two buildings in the downtown South Orange area, with flames and heavy smoke visible in multiple videos recorded by bystanders.
Fire officials said the building located at 51 E. South Orange Avenue experienced the most significant fire damage.
The neighboring building, where the woman had been seen at the window, sustained flames in the rear portion of the structure along with smoke and heat damage.
Other footage from the scene shows firefighters breaking windows along the upper floors of both buildings in order to vent smoke as crews worked to contain the blaze.
Firefighters also directed hoses at the roof of the building, where flames were shooting out during the height of the fire.
South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum said in a social media post that no injuries were reported and that all firefighters involved in the response were accounted for following the incident.
The fire required a large emergency response. According to officials, approximately 50 firefighters from the South Essex Fire Department and other nearby departments responded to the scene to battle the flames.
Emergency crews closed nearby streets to traffic for several hours while firefighters worked to control the fire and prevent it from spreading further through the downtown area.
Witness Jeremy Kovacs, who captured video of the response, described the scene after noticing smoke and flames while walking nearby.
Kovacs said he had been heading to a local diner to get an iced coffee when he first saw the fire.
“It was pretty crazy,” the 41-year-old South Orange resident told The Post.
“I’ve never seen a fire like that.”
Firefighters continued battling the blaze for more than two hours before it was brought under control. Officials said the fire was extinguished by early evening.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, and the investigation into the blaze remains ongoing.