Five homes in East Newark were destroyed or badly damaged in a late morning fire along President Street.

Multiple neighbors told News 12 New Jersey that the fire started when a motorcycle exploded while being repaired inside of a garage. Witnesses say the man working on the motorbike suffered serious burns before taken away by ambulance.

People evacuated their homes along President Street at around 11:15 a.m. as the fire grew in size. Residents in this section on East Newark live in row homes. They are three story structures with a family on each floor, making it possible that as many as 15 families will be touched by this.

News 12 spoke with one man who lives next door to the home where the fire started.

Ricky Zhao heard that initial explosion. He heard people yelling for help and quickly got out of his home and out onto the street.

“Everyone just came out of the house and tried to escape. All of the neighbors were on the street. I came out to try to run away from our building," said Zhao.

The wind at the time was blowing at about 16 mph through these streets of East Newark, which may have contributed to the flames spreading to neighboring homes.

The New Jersey State Fire Marshall is investigating the fire.