Hoboken NJ 5th Alm, 300 Washington St, 02-19-12

At just after 19:00 hours and just as a 5th alarm fire was being placed under control in neighboring Jersey City, Hoboken fire dispatch started receiving calls reporting a fire at 300 Washington St on the corner of 3rd, on arrival of the 1st due company a 2nd alarm was requested for heavy smoke showing along with fire from the 1st floor of the @ 30'X150' 5 story building. Heavy fire was located in the rear of the store with heavy smoke quickly filling the upper floor apts trapping occupants which required several rescues via ladders. Mutual aid was requested but due to numerous co's still operating at the previous 5th alarm, help would take some time to arrive. Union County Mutual Aid Coordinator (MAC 1), Elizabeth Deputy Chief Lathey Wirkus who was in the area offered assistance, immediately 2 engines and 1 ladder from Newark who were originally relocating to Jersey City for coverage were redirected to the fire, an additional 2 engines and 1 ladder were dispatched to the scene from Elizabeth. Off duty firefighters were called back to duty and additional mutual aid responded from East Newark, Kearny, Bayonne and North Hudson Regional Fire Dept.
After a couple of hours of aggressive interior firefighting, all members were withdrawn from the building as heavy fire was visible on several floors and breaking through the roof and a full exterior attack was commenced eventually knocking down most of the visible fire. The fire was finally declared probably will hold by Chief of Dept. Richard Bloom at around 00:40 hours but co's remained on the scene hitting hot spots until early in the morning. Co's responded back 2 additional times within a few hours of clearing the scene due to rekindles. Several firefighters and a few occupants were injured and transported to the hospital, none seriously and numerous people were left homeless, the building will need to be razed and the cause of the fire in under investigation although not considered suspicious.