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Photos and story by Ron Jeffers
Five children were killed after a fire raced through a three-story wood-frame dwelling on July 13, 2018, in Union City, New Jersey. About half a dozen North Hudson Regional firefighters were taken to the hospital for treatment, mostly from smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. Many other firefighters were treated at the scene by EMS personnel from surrounding communities.
North Hudson’s dispatch center sent out a full-assignment fire alarm to 25th Street at 8:54 am, and notified companies via radio that they were receiving numerous phone calls and reports of people and animals trapped. Squad Co. 2, pulling out of the 16th Street firehouse, radioed in that there was smoke in the area.
A large column of black smoke was visible for miles in the metropolitan area, summonsing news helicopters.
First-arriving fire units found heavy fire rising along the east wall of the entire structure, extending to the exposure at 414 (“D”), another wood-frame dwelling. They also found the first-floor hallway in flames, with extension to the above floors. One adult resident was assisted by firefighters.
Second and third alarms were quickly transmitted by North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Nick Gazzillo. Firefighters set up hoselines as others went in to make their searches.
The black smoke quickly turned to gray and white as water hit the flames. During this time, they continued with their searches. In all, five children were found in the acrid, blinding smoke and heat, all on the top floor. They were removed to the street, via stairway and ladders, where a combination of firefighters, EMTs, and police officers began CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. They were then placed into ambulances for transport.
Reports at the scene had two children dead, two and five-years-old, one was flown by helicopter to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and two others went to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. A third child later expired, and news reports indicated that since this writing another two children have passed away, bringing the total number of victims to five.
After the children were removed, a firefighter brought out a dog, still breathing. EMTs administered oxygen with a specially designed K-9 mask. The dog was then turned over to Union City police for transportation to a veterinarian.
Later, a pet hamster was taken out of 414 in a small cage and reunited with its 12-year-old owner. It had survived the smoke in the exposure dwelling.
A rehab station was set up in the shade by EMS personnel to examine weary firefighters and provide bottled water. About a half-dozen firefighters were transported to area hospitals for further treatment. The Jersey City Gong Club canteen truck was also on hand bringing bottled water to the command post and rehab areas. Local business people also brought over cases of water, as well as supplies from Department of Public Works employees who assisted at the scene.
About 30 people were reported displaced and the Red Cross was on the scene to assist them. In all, five alarms were sounded, bringing in mutual aid fire companies to the scene from Jersey City, Hoboken, and Kearny. The fire was placed under control at 11:25 a.m.
While this fire was being brought under control, another fire struck at a wood-frame dwelling on Hillside Place, North Bergen, on the steep hill below police headquarters. It appeared to be an outside fire, in an alley, that extended into the structure, with smoke throughout the building. Along with North Hudson, mutual aid fire units that were covering the area reported to the scene. Due to the fire activity, some of the fire departments that went to the North Bergen fire, and covering North Hudson, came from quite a distance, including Essex County. Additional units at this fire came from Jersey City, Secaucus, Kearny, Harrison, Bayonne, Bloomfield, Nutley, and Montclair. This fire was declared under control at 12:14 p.m.
On 25th Street, firefighters conducted an aggressive fire attack and search, determined to find the unaccounted for children. They did not give up, and all were located and removed from the still-burning building. There was excellent team work between firefighters, police, and EMS personnel, acting in the highest standards of their professions.
Members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the state Division of Fire Safety were on the scene to assist city authorities with the fire investigation.
In the evening, an announcement was made by the fire communications center that the Weehawken Ambulance Squad would host a critical stress council meeting at 9 a.m., July 14th, for any emergency personnel that would like to take benefit of that service.
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