NEWARK — A four-alarm in Newark late Saturday night that severely damaged two houses and affected two others has displaced dozens of residents, officials said.

Newark Fire Department spokesman John Brown said the blaze on the 200 block of Lafayette Street started just before 10 p.m. Saturday night. He said the fire was under control in roughly two hours.

Nobody was injured in the fire, Brown said, but more than 40 residents have been forced out of their homes.

Brown said the cause of the fire is not yet known.

The Red Cross posted on social media that the organization was helping the displaced families.

Diane Concannon, a spokeswoman for the North Jersey region of the American Red Cross, said at least nine families were affected by the fire. She said the Red Cross opened a reception center nearby and "we had 33 people in the center as of late last evening."

"We were preparing to open a shelter, but many people left to stay with friends and family," she said. "A shelter was not needed."

She said the Red Cross provided emergency assistance and comfort kits to 10 people from two families who were in need of temporary lodging.

Erin O'Neill may be reached at eoneill@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter NJ.com on Facebook.