A fire in an occupied three-story, wood-frame corner dwelling continued to spread via void spaces and through the roof for several hours in Union City (NJ), on March 9, 2022. The fire sent huge columns of smoke throughout the area and prompted the evacuation of nearby schools.
At approximately 11:45 a.m., the North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire and Rescue dispatch sent a full assignment to 3801 Park Avenue. Fire control reported that several phone calls had been received. Captain Markus Rehfeld of Engine Co. 5 arrived and reported fire showing from the basement area and ordered a second alarm.
The fire rapidly spread upward through voids, providing a thick smoke condition on an already dank day that featured a combination of light rain and snow.
Firefighters advanced hoselines and set up an exterior line to prevent flames from extending to a dwelling on the “D” side, separated by a small alley. A third alarm was struck.
Thick smoke consumed the building, making it difficult at times to witness fire progression and hampering operations. Smoke covered Union Hill Middle School, located on the other end of 38th Street at Hudson Avenue. School officials received an order to release students as smoke blanketed the neighborhood. In addition, a huge column of smoke that rose above the building traveled in a southward direction. This caused fire alarms for smoke to be transmitted for locations in lower Union City and the Heights section of Jersey City. In addition, a Union City elementary school on 16th Street was evacuated when the fire alarm was sounded due to the smoke.
As fire consumed the 38th Street building and conditions worsened, members were ordered to evacuate the structure. A ladder pipe, tower ladder, and deck gun were used on Park Avenue. Another ladder pipe was in use on the 38th Street side.
A fourth alarm was transmitted by Deputy Chief Anthony Venezia. This alarm included two engines, a truck, and battalion chief from Jersey City to the scene.
A collapse zone had been established and part of the “B” wall fell into the street and on to parked vehicles. This also exposed heavy fire within.
Master streams and exterior handlines continued to pound the structure for several hours as rain and snow continued to fall. Firefighters continued to utilize hand lines and a tower ladder to hit flames that were smoldering under debris. This also included a hand line from a second-floor window of Exposure “D.” The fire was declared under control at 8:27 p.m.
A demolition company was called in to tear down the remains, after the crushed parked cars were removed. During this process, members of Ladder Co. 3 discovered a dog in the ruins. They retrieved the pet and turned it over to a very grateful owner.
Members of the Jersey City Gong Club’s canteen unit set up on Park Avenue, providing hot and cold drinks and stew for the weary firefighters.
Residents were assisted by Union City police officers to a police bus for shelter, as accommodations were made for their shelter.
This was the second four-alarm fire that the North Hudson regional firefighters battled within three days. On March 7th, local firefighters battled a fire that involved a row of attached wood-frame dwellings in North Bergen—another of the five municipalities covered by this regional fire department.
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