Jersey City emergency crews clear Newark Avenue after Diwali fireworks trigger hazard

Tens of thousands gathered along Newark Avenue in the India Square neighborhood of Jersey City for annual Diwali celebrations on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.

Pedestrians filled the strip between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Tonnele Avenue for shopping, music, and street dancing.

Late in the evening, attendees ignited commercial firecrackers and fireworks on the pavement in dense pedestrian corridors.

The Jersey City Police Department and the Division of Fire intervened around 10:00 PM to clear the roadway due to fire hazards near storefronts and utility lines.

Emergency crews deployed water lines shortly after 10:15 PM to soak the street and neutralize smoldering debris.

Authorities reported no major building fires or severe structural damages along the business strip.

The crowds dispersed into surrounding Journal Square transit hubs following the emergency sweep.

Emergency teams cleared Newark Avenue in Jersey City following fireworks-related fire hazards during Diwali celebrations.