Cliffside Pk NJ 3rd & 2nd alm fires, 223 Walker St & 325 Palisades Ave. 11-18-14

At just around 17:30 on November 18, 2014, Cliffside Pk Fire Dept was dispatched to a reported working fire at a construction site on Walker St & Cliff Ln. Upon arrival of the first chief he reported a large 4 story apartment complex under construction with heavy fire on the top floor, incoming units were advised to bring water and the truck companies were instructed to go into aerial operations on arrival. With conditions deteriorating and a severe ember problem a 2nd alarm was requested. As the top 2 floors became fully involved , a collapse problem, an ember problem, exposure issues and with engine companies reporting low water pressure command requested a 3rd alarm. Within an hour companies were making good progress and by 18:30 the fire appeared to be contained wirh only pockets of fire remaining thru-out the building that would flair up from time to time due to the windy conditions. At 18:45, North Hudson Squad 7 staged on Palisades Ave reported that they had a fire at 325 Palisades Ave. further reports stated fire in the cockloft as well as the top floor of the 3 story frame OMD. It was quickly determined that the fire had a good headway with heavy fire in the cockloft and all firefighters were withdrawn from the building. Conditions rapidly deteriorated, Squad 7 raised their squirt to the A/D corner and Palisades Parks truck was positioned on the A/B corner of the building. Additional companies made their way to this fire from Walker St many covered in ice from fighting that fire in frigid temperatures and high winds. Eventually the entire top floor and cockloft became fully involved with heavy fire with the Squirt, T/L and multiple outside hand lines put into service, during the fire heavy smoke would be driven to the ground by the winds making zero visibility at times, a salt truck was requested from the DPW due to icing conditions from water spray. This fire went to a 2nd alarm and was declared PWH at 20:40 but continued to flair up late into the night. Multiple towns from Bergen County as well as North Hudson Units were called into the scene or provided cover for Cliffside Pk, numerous people were left homeless but only a hand full of minor injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.