Photo and info by Ron Jeffers
A fire involving a “rear address” dwelling in Union City, New Jersey, put local firefighters to the test on a warm May 2 afternoon. The rear address structure is a 2 ½-story wood-frame dwelling located in the middle of a city block, behind other structures, with access via narrow alleyways.
Shortly before 2 p.m., the North Hudson Regional Fire Department dispatch office, which covers this city and four other Hudson County municipalities, began receiving calls for a fire in the rear of a building on the 400-block of 40th Street. Second Battalion Chief Ed Valdivia, leaving his firehouse on 43rd Street, radioed in that smoke was visible from a distance.
Fire Control notified responding units that they were now receiving calls for a fire on the 400-block of 41st Street. The companies that arrived on 40th reported a fire behind the building fronting 40th Street, and the main access was from 41st Street. That’s where additional units on the first alarm reported to. The wood-frame structure that fronted on the 40th Street is a former dwelling that has been converted into a children’s day care.
The rear of the fire building, visible through alleys on 40th Street, was fully involved. Squad Co. 1 stretched a hand line through a narrow alley to the rear of the fire building, while other companies stretched in from 41st Street alleyways. Additional handlines were stretched through the backyards of other addresses.
During this time, smoke was noted showing from the roof level of a one-story structure attached to the fire building, with an entrance facing toward 40th Street. This rear building appeared to be a former garage that was converted into an apartment. Firefighters went into the apartment with a handline and quickly knocked down the fire. That handline was then returned to the rear of the original fire building, for use again.
Hoselines quickly knocked down the flames that were consuming the entire rear, “C”, side of the structure; however, fire was in the building from the ground level and was extending up walls to the attic, and eventually through the roof.
Ground ladders had to be carried through alleys on both sides to provide egress on to the burning structure. Fire consumed all three floors. When it appeared that progress was being made, smoke and flames would appear in another portion of the dwelling. Firefighters said it was difficult reaching the voids above the ceiling in the attic area.
Firefighters were ordered out of the structure, which was followed by a partial roof collapse on the C-D corner.
When conditions improved, firefighters used saws and pike poles to open up the voids and overhaul the hot spots.
Due to the labor intensive fire, a total of four alarms were transmitted. The fourth alarm dispatched a mutual aid assignment of two engines, a truck, and two battalion chiefs from Jersey City to the scene.
Besides difficult access to the fire building, the streets in this section of the city are very narrow, with parking on both sides. Union City is one of the most densely populated municipalities in the country. This, along with traffic congestion and overhead power lines, makes it difficult for pump operators and in the raising of aerial ladders.
The fire was declared under control at 4:58 pm by Chief of Department David Donnarumma.
On this warm afternoon, firefighters needed relief during the battle. Many members sought shade on the street to take off their gear and cool off. The Jersey City Gong Club canteen unit was on the scene and provided copious bottles of water for members on each side of the fire. A few firefighters were treated for nonlife-threatening injuries.
During this fire, a major motor vehicle accident involving a truck with people trapped occurred on US Routes 1 & 9 (Tonnelle Avenue) in North Bergen. This municipality is also covered the North Hudson Regional. Mutual aid units from other municipalities that were relocated into the region were dispatched to handle the extrication.
