A fire spreads through a number of houses in New Jersey

An elderly man was injured and nine families were displaced after a fire broke out late Tuesday afternoon in Irvington, New Jersey, near Newark.

Firefighters responded to reports of a fire at a vacant residence shortly before 5 p.m., officials said.

According to a statement from Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé, the Irvington Fire Department requested mutual aid and members of the Newark Fire Division responded to provide that aid.

Within the next half hour, a second and then a third alarm were sounded as the fire destroyed five homes on the block.

Several trees around a home also caught fire and a car in the driveway was also ablaze, officials said.

According to NewsCopter7, a thick cloud of black smoke could be seen from up to 20 miles away.

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While firefighters worked to put out the flames, authorities said some residents had to be evacuated. Firefighters also experienced issues with low water pressure and at least one broken fire hydrant.

WABC chief meteorologist Lee Goldberg said 20 mph wind gusts and dry air contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.

Despite these obstacles, according to Fragé, the fire was under control by 7 p.m. and the injured man was taken to the university hospital.

Newark Public Safety confirmed that 26 adults and four children need to be relocated.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

New Jersey fire burns in a number of homes originally appeared on abcnews.go.com