NEWARK (CBS 2) -- Exhausted firefighters struggled in 90-degree heat to contain a five-alarm blaze in Newark.

The flames broke out Wednesday afternoon, damaging seven buildings and sending residents running, CBS 2's Christine Sloan reports.

Two homes were completely brought down, and nearly a dozen residents were left homeless after the fire.

The fire was so intense in the Newark neighborhood that two vacant homes collapsed and flames jumped the street, engulfing another abandoned home.

"There was like no water coming out of the fire truck – just a little," witness Mary Vega said. "The fire spread so high, and the building started coming down."

Firefighters say the fire started in one vacant home and then jumped to the one next door. In all, the huge fire affected seven buildings, including the home of James Coleman and his wife Annie.

The Colemans barely made it out – and James didn't want to leave at first.

"I was running out of the house, because I went back and told him to wake up," Annie Coleman said. "He thought, 'it's alright, it's gonna go out.'"

The Colemans' son and firefighters had to pull him out.

"My grandfather is a little stubborn, so he didn't want to get off the porch at first," Shaun Watford said. "The smoke was starting to get heavy and he was just sitting there like it's no problem. Eventually we got him off the porch."

"They dragged me down the stairway, and threw me against the wall down there," James Coleman said. "They didn't mean no harm."

Eleven firefighters were injured, treated for heat stroke and minor cuts. Most were given oxygen tanks at the scene, though some were taken to the hospital.

"Heat stroke – it's very hot out here with all the tanks and equipment," John Brown, of the Newark Fire Department, said.

Fire officials said they did have water problems, and at one point it was so bad that residents picked up a hose and started battling a fire in a nearby lot.

The Colemans' home sustained water damage, but they're just thankful that everyone got out.

The arson unit is investigating. Officials won't say if the fire was intentionally set, but they are interviewing neighbors.