Union City NJ, Fatal 8th Alm, 2105 Bergenline Ave, 01-18-12

At just after 21:00 hours, North Hudson Regional Fire Rescue units were dispatched to 2105 Bergenline Ave for a reported fire, on arrival co's found a working fire in the 3 story frame building housing a store on the 1st floor with apts above. An interior attack was commenced however the fire had well advanced partly due to the heavy amount of storage as well as compressed gas cylinders in the building. After almost an hour of aggressive firefighting, the members were pulled from the building and co's set up for an exterior attack, at this time heavy smoke was showing not only from the basement but also from the roof of the original fire building as well as exposure 2 a similar attached and exposure 4 a 2 story frame attached. A portable monitor was set up and directed into the basement through the sidewalk bilko door as heavy fire was now showing from the windows and roof of a 1 story addition in the rear of the original fire building and now threatening exposure 3 a 2 story frame dwelling. Additional alarm were sounded as fire was now showing through the roof of the main fire building and involving exposure 2, 4, 4A and 4B. A total of 8 alarms were transmitted bringing co's from throughout Hudson County as well as companies from Essex and Bergen Counties. In all 5 buildings were either destroyed or damaged, 1 occupant was killed and later located in the basement of the original fire building and 13 FF's were injured, the most serious a broken hand and the fire took over 8 hours to control.