Dozens of firefighters and emergency management officials before dawn Saturday were still battling smoke billowing from the roofs of 82-84-86-88 Elm Street, six hours after 911 calls came in about a fire at 11:14 p.m. Friday, reports dailyrecord.com (http://dailyre.co/1BEnGtz)
Town Detective Lt. Stuart Greer issued a statement at 3:25 a.m. that said freezing temperatures and strong winds were hampering firefighting efforts. At 4:15 am, firefighters were dousing the rooftops but heavy smoke was still visible while the streets and sidewalks were encrusted with ice from the water sprays.
Frank Manniello, disaster services volunteer for the American Red Cross, was on scene at the Morristown Train Station, which was opened as a warming center for displaced families. Manniello said no residents were injured and the Red Cross is helping about 25 displaced people.
Some live in apartments above businesses at 82-84-86-88 Elm Street, where the fire occurred. Others, such as18-year-old Yin Ho and her family, were displaced because utilities were turned off in their building that houses Malay, a Malaysian restaurant at 147 Morris St.
At 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Ho sat beside her father and sister on benches at the train station while her 9-year-old niece tried to sleep on another bench.
