A two-alarm fire severely damaged the rectory of a historic Newark church that has long been a focal point of the city's Italian-American community. The fire inside the rectory of St. Lucy's Church, located on Seventh Avenue,  was first spotted at 2:35 pm on Monday by two Newark police officers on patrol, according to Newark Public Safety Director Brian A. O’Hara.

Responding Newark firefighters soon located a fire in a sun porch area at the rear of the rectory, which had spread to the building’s second floor and roof. Approximately 70 firefighters responded to the scene. The fire was considered under control at 3:26 p.m.