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Posted January 2, 2007 EST
New Years Eve Fire In East Orange Displaces 65
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United States (New Jersey) -
A four alarm fire tore through a four story apartment building on New Years Eve, leaving two people hospitalized, many injured, and sixty five residents without a place to live on New Years Day. At 8:00 PM on December 31st, the East Orange Fire Department was dispatched to 395 Main St. for a report of a working fire. On arrival, units found a 60’ X 75’ four story brick OMD, with smoke issuing from both the basement and the upper floors, with residents in need of evacuation.
A second alarm was transmitted as a line was stretched to the basement and other members removed the residents by the interior stairs and by Truck 1’s aerial. One of the residents went into cardiac arrest and had to be transported to University Hospital.
As a hose team was searching for the seat of the fire, flames flashed around them, sending them scrambling outside. Some received minor injuries, but the Captain of Engine 1 received serious burns to parts of his face and hands and was transported to St. Barnabas Burn Center.
A third alarm was transmitted as units were withdrawn from the building and companies regrouped. Additional venting and the exterior streams appeared to be making progress and firefighters re-entered the building to attempt final extinguishments, but the flames were traveling in the walls and soon there was heavy smoke pushing from the upper floors and cockloft. Firefighters were once again pulled from the fire building. A fourth alarm was sounded as flames took possession of all floors of the building in the rear and started to extend forward.
Flames soon broke through the roof, creating a heavy ember condition, threatening the exposure 4 building and beyond. The exposure 2 building, a similar attached OMD, also was a major concern. Lines were stretched to both buildings ant the flames were able to be contained to the original fire building, even though there was a partial collapse on to the roof of exposure 4. The exposure 2 building suffered smoke and water damage.
Shortly before the ball dropped in Times Square, all of the interior floors of the fire building collapsed to the basement, leaving only the four walls barely standing, and a large pile of rubble burning inside.
Two churches across the street from the fire helped the displaced residents. As dawn broke over the scene, units were still working to extinguish what was left of the building. An investigation into the cause will be attempted when the area is safe. Nine neighboring departments provided mutual aid to the fire or coverage.
More Photo Stories From East Orange Fire Department - Click Here
A second alarm was transmitted as a line was stretched to the basement and other members removed the residents by the interior stairs and by Truck 1’s aerial. One of the residents went into cardiac arrest and had to be transported to University Hospital.
As a hose team was searching for the seat of the fire, flames flashed around them, sending them scrambling outside. Some received minor injuries, but the Captain of Engine 1 received serious burns to parts of his face and hands and was transported to St. Barnabas Burn Center.
A third alarm was transmitted as units were withdrawn from the building and companies regrouped. Additional venting and the exterior streams appeared to be making progress and firefighters re-entered the building to attempt final extinguishments, but the flames were traveling in the walls and soon there was heavy smoke pushing from the upper floors and cockloft. Firefighters were once again pulled from the fire building. A fourth alarm was sounded as flames took possession of all floors of the building in the rear and started to extend forward.
Flames soon broke through the roof, creating a heavy ember condition, threatening the exposure 4 building and beyond. The exposure 2 building, a similar attached OMD, also was a major concern. Lines were stretched to both buildings ant the flames were able to be contained to the original fire building, even though there was a partial collapse on to the roof of exposure 4. The exposure 2 building suffered smoke and water damage.
Shortly before the ball dropped in Times Square, all of the interior floors of the fire building collapsed to the basement, leaving only the four walls barely standing, and a large pile of rubble burning inside.
Two churches across the street from the fire helped the displaced residents. As dawn broke over the scene, units were still working to extinguish what was left of the building. An investigation into the cause will be attempted when the area is safe. Nine neighboring departments provided mutual aid to the fire or coverage.
More Photo Stories From East Orange Fire Department - Click Here
Written and photos by Bill Tompkins
Courtesy of NJ Fire Photos
