North Jersey Fires - June of 2007

On June 2nd, 2007 at approximately 1013 hours a fire gutted a two-story home at 82 Plainfield Street sending one man to the hospital and displacing other occupants. When firefighters arrived there was fire blowing out the front windows of the structure and dropped power lines. Two Edison Firefighters entered the rear of the building and found a man on the first floor. They removed him from the structure and began CPR. He was transported by EMS units at the scene. Later reports indicate that other occupants were able to escape from the burning structure. The fire was brought under control in approximately 40 minutes.

On June 3rd, 2007 at approximately 1400 hours fire units responded to a report of an apartment fire at 166 Maplewood Avenue. Arriving companies were faced with a fire on the top floor at the B/C corner of the building. A second alarm was struck shortly after Maplewood Firefighters started a primary search of the fire building. Mutual Aid companies from Millburn, South Orange, and Irvington responded to the scene on the 2nd Alarm. First alarm firefighters had the bulk of the fire knocked down, as incoming units assisted with overhaul and rapid intervention crews. Faced with what could have been a major fire in the Maplewood Village Area, the aggressive actions of the MFD held the fire in place.

A fire in a 2½ story wood frame private dwelling required a second alarm assignment to bring the incident under control. At approximately 04:30 hours on June 5th, 2007 a Signal 11 (Working Fire) was transmitted by fire units operating at 282 Park Avenue in Orange. Approximately 15 minutes after transmitting the working fire signal, command reported that they had a well involved building, multiple lines were stretched and operating, and that due to the fire conditions they were switching to a defensive strategy. An additional engine company was also requested to the scene at that time. At approximately 05:00 hours a second alarm was struck, bringing additional firefighters from East Orange and West Orange to the scene. The fire had come through the roof of the building and two ladder pipes were put into operation. Multiple 2½” and 1¾” attack line were also operating on the “C” and “D” sides of the fire. After about 45 minutes of exterior operations, the bulk of the fire was knocked down and the units on scene were preparing to switch to interior operations for final extinguishment and overhaul. Additional companies from other Essex County departments provided mutual aid to cover empty stations.

At approximately 06:30 hours on June 9th, 2007 fire units from Chester Township, NJ reported that they had a working fire at 343 Pottersville Road. First arriving units encountered heavy fire conditions in the basement with extension to rest of the structure, and command requested mutual aid to the scene. Smoke was pushing from the eves due to this old farm type house being balloon construction. Due to no hydrants in the area additional tankers were dispatched. After 30 minutes command reported that a primary search of the 1st and 2nd floors was complete and that a rehab area was being established for the crews. Around 07:36 hours the fire was reported to be under control. Area departments who responded on the mutual aid request provided water supply and a rapid intervention crew. These departments included Flanders, Pottersville, Mendham Township, Mendham Boro, and Fairmont.

Not to far away from the Chester fire, another working fire was reported in Long Valley, NJ at 59 East Mill Road shortly before 08:00 hours. Firefighters encountered a medium smoke condition and had to hunt to locate this well hidden fire. What appeared to be a small fire in the ceiling caused this incident. One tanker was released from the Pottersville Road fire to respond into Long Valley. The fire occurred at the offices of the Long Valley Veterinary Clinic. Units from the Long Valley Fire Company #1, the Washington Township Fire Company, and the Tri-County Fire Company had the fire under control shortly after their arrival. Hackettstown Fire Department also responded with their Rapid Intervention Crew.