The blaze, which destroyed eight homes on a bluff above the construction site, could be seen Wednesday night from miles away and across the river in New York City. A number of vehicles on the block also were damaged.
Several residents had to be evacuated, including patients at a nearby nursing home. A shelter was set up in a nearby community center.
No residents were hurt, but two firefighters were injured. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known. One was taken to a hospital.
No one was living yet in the Avalon River Mews condominiums being built on the former site of an Alcoa plant.
As the fire intensified, residents began watering their lawns in an effort to keep the intense flames from spreading to their properties. Fire officials eventually told them to stop so that water pressure levels for firefighters would not be affected.
Water from fire trucks was sprayed on houses and trees across the street from the site in an effort to keep the blaze from spreading.
Investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the blaze, which was contained after about two hours.
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