Story and photos by Ron Jeffers
Area residents said they smelled smoke in the neighborhood for about an hour before the alarm came in, but by then it was too late. A fast-moving fire raced through the top floor of a five-story ordinary, occupied multiple dwelling in West New York, New Jersey, on the evening of May 8th, leaving over 100 residents homeless.
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Around 10:30 p.m. North Hudson Regional (NJ) fire companies were dispatched to a report of a roof fire at 234-51st Street, and Fire Control added that they were receiving numerous phone calls. Passing police observed thick smoke on the top floor of the structure and began to evacuate the building, along with a woman resident who began banging on doors.
Squad 1 was first due and members advanced a hand line to the top floor. Second Battalion Chief Nick Sico called in a working fire. Engine crews found heavy heat and smoke as the advanced, but could not located the seat of the fire. In all, two 1 3/4-inch handlines and one 2 1/2-inch handlines were stretched. Truck companies took to the roof to open up. Some fire was spotted and knocked down, but thermal imaging cameras indicated red above them. Firefighters believe the flames they knocked down may have dropped down from the cockloft area. Acting Deputy Chief Robert Duane had already struck a second alarm.
As the interior crews reported hitting their visible fire the deputy observed flames venting out top-floor windows and the cockloft area. A third alarm was transmitted.
Conditions started to deteriorate, as truck companies started a trench cut in blinding smoke. Conditions came to a point where A/DC Duane ordered an evacuation of firefighters from the building and roof. Engine members exited through the common stairway, and truckmen came down Ladder 4’s aerial ladder on the 51st Street side of the corner building, at Hudson Avenue.
Master streams were set up which eventually included ladder pipes from Ladders 2, 3, 4, and 5. A fourth alarm was sounded bringing Jersey City Engines 2, 8, Ladder 12 and Battalion 3 to the scene. A North Hudson reserve engine and truck, activated by off-duty members, were also special called, later.
During the height of the blaze, a portion of a parapet wall fell to the ground, narrowly missing reserve Engine 18’s pumper, being used by Squad Co. 1. A collapse zone had already been established and police evacuated several nearby homes. Red hot bricks from the wall landed on the opposite side of the street alongside of parked cars.
Spectators noticed that embers had ignited combustible material on the side of a 2 1/2-story wood frame dwelling on the D side of the fire building, which was separated by an alleyway where a van was parked. This was in the collapse zone. The spectators notified firefighters who immediately advanced a hand line to the alley to knock down the rapidly growing flames up against the dwelling.
Fire consumed most of the top floor and roof area before the long duration fire was over. At times, low-banking smoke made street operations difficult, and the command board was moved to a clear area. In all, the building contained 22 apartments. Over 100 residents were offered assistance by the American Red Cross. Officials said the man who occupied the apartment where the fire was believed to have originated was asleep.
Several firefighters were treated for minor injuries and there were no reported injuries to occupants.
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