Photos by James Wood, Sr.
Belleville Firefighter Scott Went Worth supplied the following information:BELLEVILLE – Belleville firefighters battled a multiple alarm fire in the early morning hours of Sunday Aug. 9, which forced residents to flee from heavy flames that destroyed a local business, and required assistance from area departments to bring under control.
Emergency calls were received at 1:38 a.m. reporting a fire at a dry cleaning establishment near Franklin Avenue and Joralemon Street. Battalion No. 2 arrived on scene at 1:40 a.m. with Truck No, 1 and reported heavy fire fully engulfing the first floor of a two-story building. Firefighters had several immediate risks upon arrival; the fire was rapidly extending to the second floor, and there were seven apartment units to evacuate. Firefighter crews from Engine No.2 and No. 3 hooked into nearby hydrants and knocked down the flames using apparatus-mounted deck gun nozzles, keeping the fire from spreading to adjacent houses and a gas station. Simultaneously, crews from Truck No. 1 and EMS No. 1 conducted searches and helped residents escape from the flames coming out the windows. Hose lines were then stretched to advance into the first and second floors to extinguish the fire.
Battalion Chief Scott Langlands immediately struck a second alarm upon arrival, requesting Nutley and Bloomfield Fire Departments to the scene. The first floor of the building was a dry-cleaning business (Jim’s Place Dry Cleaning.) On first and second floors were seven occupied apartments. The fire spread quickly from the storefront, igniting a parked car outside, and up the stairwell into the second floor apartments. A third alarm was struck at 2:05 a.m., requesting Newark Fire Department for manpower at the scene. All residents were safely evacuated with the assistance of the Belleville Police Department, and the fire was knocked down within a half-hour of arrival. The fire was declared under control at approximately 2:36 a.m. and completely extinguished by 4 a.m. Firefighters remained on the scene overnight, and into the morning to conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire.
The fire was classified as a third alarm, with additional firefighters from Nutley, Bloomfield, and Newark FD’s to the scene to assist. Belleville initially responded with Engine No. 2, Engine No. 3, Truck No. 1, EMS #1, and a Battalion Chief, for a total of 11 firefighters. Additionally, Reserve Engine #1 was staffed with three firefighters and brought to the scene for relief.
While Belleville firefighters worked at the scene, additional companies from Montclair and Nutley covered the township, responding to a smoke condition call on Van Renssaeler Street, and a rubbish fire on Main Street. Additionally, North Arlington EMS ambulance answered two medical calls.
The fire heavily damaged the first and second floors in the front, and caused water and smoke damage in rest of the building. One firefighter was injured, and transported to the hospital with heat exhaustion. No civilians were injured.
The fire is currently under investigation by members of the Fire Investigation Bureau, and while no official cause has been determined at this time, preliminary reports indicate it appears to be accidental. The residents and business owners were displaced and the building was declared uninhabitable by the Building Department. Most of the residents were able to gather up some of their possessions before the owner secured the building.
For more information, please contact the Belleville Fire Department, 973-450-3368.
Emergency calls were received at 1:38 a.m. reporting a fire at a dry cleaning establishment near Franklin Avenue and Joralemon Street. Battalion No. 2 arrived on scene at 1:40 a.m. with Truck No, 1 and reported heavy fire fully engulfing the first floor of a two-story building. Firefighters had several immediate risks upon arrival; the fire was rapidly extending to the second floor, and there were seven apartment units to evacuate. Firefighter crews from Engine No.2 and No. 3 hooked into nearby hydrants and knocked down the flames using apparatus-mounted deck gun nozzles, keeping the fire from spreading to adjacent houses and a gas station. Simultaneously, crews from Truck No. 1 and EMS No. 1 conducted searches and helped residents escape from the flames coming out the windows. Hose lines were then stretched to advance into the first and second floors to extinguish the fire.
Battalion Chief Scott Langlands immediately struck a second alarm upon arrival, requesting Nutley and Bloomfield Fire Departments to the scene. The first floor of the building was a dry-cleaning business (Jim’s Place Dry Cleaning.) On first and second floors were seven occupied apartments. The fire spread quickly from the storefront, igniting a parked car outside, and up the stairwell into the second floor apartments. A third alarm was struck at 2:05 a.m., requesting Newark Fire Department for manpower at the scene. All residents were safely evacuated with the assistance of the Belleville Police Department, and the fire was knocked down within a half-hour of arrival. The fire was declared under control at approximately 2:36 a.m. and completely extinguished by 4 a.m. Firefighters remained on the scene overnight, and into the morning to conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire.
The fire was classified as a third alarm, with additional firefighters from Nutley, Bloomfield, and Newark FD’s to the scene to assist. Belleville initially responded with Engine No. 2, Engine No. 3, Truck No. 1, EMS #1, and a Battalion Chief, for a total of 11 firefighters. Additionally, Reserve Engine #1 was staffed with three firefighters and brought to the scene for relief.
While Belleville firefighters worked at the scene, additional companies from Montclair and Nutley covered the township, responding to a smoke condition call on Van Renssaeler Street, and a rubbish fire on Main Street. Additionally, North Arlington EMS ambulance answered two medical calls.
The fire heavily damaged the first and second floors in the front, and caused water and smoke damage in rest of the building. One firefighter was injured, and transported to the hospital with heat exhaustion. No civilians were injured.
The fire is currently under investigation by members of the Fire Investigation Bureau, and while no official cause has been determined at this time, preliminary reports indicate it appears to be accidental. The residents and business owners were displaced and the building was declared uninhabitable by the Building Department. Most of the residents were able to gather up some of their possessions before the owner secured the building.
For more information, please contact the Belleville Fire Department, 973-450-3368.
