A huge fire consumed a one-story brick and cinder block commercial building on the afternoon of January 11 in Harrison, New Jersey, sending huge columns of black smoke high into the sky along with rolling flames that rose some 30 feet.
A patrol lieutenant observed a small fire through a window of the Plaque Art Creations building on South Second Street and called it in. Within moments, the lieutenant saw the area that he was looking at light up in flames.
Harrison’s engine and ladder company were dispatched to a working fire and went to work setting up hose lines and forcible entry. Mutual aid was summoned that called in companies from near by East Newark and Kearny. The business was closed, and the heavy volume of fire justified a defensive attack.
Harrison’s ladder pipe and Kearny Tower 2 were placed into operation. Fire began to break through the roof and vent out windows. Police evacuated two-story dwellings on the Bergen Street side of the fire building, which were threatened. Hand lines, and the tower worked on this area.
A task force from the North Hudson Regional Fire Department was dispatched to the scene, consisting of Engine’s 1, 9, Ladder, 4, Battalion 4 and Safety 1. Engine 9 was used to provide an additional water supply to East Newark Engine 701, which had numerous lines operating. Later, Secaucus Engine 1 and Tower 2 arrived and the tower ladder went to work on South Second Street behind the Harrison truck.
The business made plastic and plaster moldings and was located in town for about 50-years. Flames consumed the roof, which caved it. The building is a loss.
The only good thing for firefighters was above freezing weather and no wind. This is contrary to weather in days earlier in which area firefighters battled serious fires in Jersey City, Union City, Passaic, Clifton, and East Orange.
See more photos from this fire HERE.
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