United States (New Jersey) - Fire department received a call from Hackensack police reporting smoke and fire with possible people trapped at 433 Park St. Engines 4, 5, 2, and 1 along with Ladder 1 and Rescue 1 responded under the command of D/C A Pawlick. Upon arrival of D/C A. Pawlick reported smoke and fire on the first floor D side 433 Park St. requested a fast team from Teaneck and a off duty truck and engine recall and safety officer. Upon arrival of the companies engine 4 stretched a 1 ¾ hand lines to begin attacking the fire on the 1st floor of 433 Park St. Ladder Company began to vent the roof and began searches on the 1st floor and rescue 1 began searches of the 2nd floor all searched were negative. Engine 2 stretched a 2 ½ inch line to protect 435 Park St. Command now reported fire extending to 435 Park street and ordered Engine 1 bring an additional water supply off Passaic St. to the scene. Engines 5 stretched a 1 ¾ into 435 park St. while engine 1 stretched a 2 ½ inch line into the basement of 433 Park St. Teaneck stretched a 2 ½ line to the driveway of 433 Park St which was used to protect exposure 429 Park St. Command transmitted a 2nd alarm bringing ladder 2 and Bogota engine 1 to the scene along with a additional fast team from Ridgefield Park. Upon ladder 2’s arrival they began to ventilate the roof and attic of 435 Park. St. Due to rapidly deteriorating conditions and heavy fire now showing on the 2nd floor of 433 Park command evacuated the original fire building. Several 2 ½ inch hand lines were placed into service and began to knock down the heavy fire. Companies were still operating in 435 Park St. beginning to extinguish fire on the 2nd floor and attic. Companies reentered 433 Park St. and began to extinguish some of the fire on the second floor. Companies were met with heavy heat and fire. Fire was rapidly extending now to the attics of 433 & 435 Park St. causing conditions to rapidly deteriorate again command ordered evacuation of both fire buildings. Bogota engine 1 and Hackensack engine 1 placed a portable master stream in service in the rear of 433 Park St additionally Ladder 1’s ladder pipe was placed in-service along with numerous exterior 2 ½ inch hand lines. Ladder 2’s ladder pipe was also placed in-service supplied by Ridgefield Park. Exterior lines continued to operate knocking down the heavy fire in 433 and 435 Park St. With all of the fire knocked down companies were unable to reenter 433 Park St. due to the roof collapsing into the second floor making the building unstable. Companies entered 435 Park St. began overhaul and extinguished hot spots. With the Fire was placed under control by command it was determined by the building department that 433 Park St. had to be torn down due to structural stability. Companies remained on scene during demolition and assisted residents with gathering items from their homes. One resident and one firefighter received minor injuries. Residents displaced by the fire were relocated by the American Red Cross.

Photos by Bill Tompkins
Written by Justin Derevyanik

Courtesy of BTFirePhotos - User-Submitted Photo Story

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