Photos and article by Ron Jeffers
A fast-moving fire took charge of a three-story wood-frame mixed occupancy building along Belleville (NJ) main business district on the evening of March 28th. Shortly after 8 p.m., local fire units were dispatched to a reported basement fire at 472 Washington Avenue, two blocks north of Engine Co. 2’s quarters. The fire had quickly extended up the walls of the structure, that contained a tattoo parlor on the ground floor and dwellings above.
“There was heavy fire from the first floor to the roof,” Battalion Chief Marty Lutz said.
Mutual aid was called to the scene; and, the relocating companies were re-directed to report to the fire and go to work.
The fire broke through the roof and threatened Exposure “B,” a three-story ordinary occupied multiple dwelling (OMD) up against the fire building. As conditions worsened, members were ordered out of the structure and a defensive attack began. This included two ladder pipes, one squirt, a tower ladder, and a BlitzFire monitor. Firefighters used hand lines on the roof of the OMD knocking down the flames licking at the apartment house.
Four alarms brought in fire companies from Newark, Nutley, Bloomfield, East Orange, Montclair and North Arlington to the scene.
The fire was declared under control around 10 p.m. The Red Cross was called in to assist the displaced residents. No injuries were reported during the course of operations.
See more photos from this incident HERE.
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