Photos and story by Ron Jeffers
A fast-moving fire tore through two attached buildings in downtown Jersey City on November 27 as residents were preparing for Thanksgiving the next day. Officials said 22 residents were displaced from both-four-story wood-frame mixed occupancy structures, which were sandwiched in between masonry buildings on each side.
After the first-alarm was transmitted, at 1:36 p.m., arriving fire companies found fire in the top-floor rear of 345 Grove St., which contained apartments above a pizzeria. The fire took quick control in the walls and cockloft and spread to 343 Grove St., a similar type structure.
A second-alarm was transmitted, followed by a third-alarm. Firefighters reported zero visibility in the fire building and had to move to floors below the heavy fire. Engine 10’s officer radioed to command that his crew was on the fourth-floor, but the fire was burning in the stairway below them. Fire was also venting out rear windows and breaking through the roof.
Evacuation tones were sounded and a defensive attack established. During this time, a firefighter fell off of the roof of a one-story rear extension. A Mayday was transmitted and the member was quickly treated by EMTs for nonlife-threatening injuries. In all, three firefighters were injured.
A fourth-alarm and special calls for additional units were also transmitted. The stubborn fire was declared under control at 5:56 p.m. by Deputy Chief Wayne McCarthy.
See more photos HERE.
