North Bergen NJ, 5th alarm, 1231 Kennedy Blvd. 12-21-16

On December 21st, 2016 at just before 11:30, North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue Dept. responded for reports of a building fire at 1231 Kennedy Blvd, Kennedy Furniture. A 2nd alarm was requested on arrival for heavy fire in the rear of the building and heavy smoke pushing from the rest of the building with a 3rd alarm requested less than 10 minutes later. The building, which was ordinary constructed was 75' across in the front, 200' deep and 100' across in the rear, exposure B was a vacant 2 story brick. As engine companies stretched large hand lines, the trucks went to the roof to effect ventilation, however conditions rapidly deteriorated forcing the members to quickly retreat off the roof and a 4th alarm requested. L-1 which was set up in front of the building suffered damage to its paint and warning lights as well as broken windows when heavy fire blew out the front show room windows forcing the ladder to be quickly taken down and the truck moved before it was lost. 1 tower ladder, 1 squirt, 1 deck gun and numerous hand lines were put into operation as the building became well involved, L-5 set up their ladder pipe on 12th St to protect the exposures on that block and attack the fire. Almost 50 minutes into the fire, several major collapses occured in the front of the building as well as the roof and as the fire extended into exposure B, a 5th alarm was requested. All heavy fire was finally knocked down at approximately 13:30 however pockets of fire continued to burn under collapsed sections of the roof and in the debris. The building was a total loss, no injuries were reported to firefighters or any of the employees and customers who were in the store when the fire started and companies remained on the scene through the night. Mutual from Jersey City, Hoboken and Kearny assisted at the scene, additional mutual aid provided cover in vacant firehouses. The cause of the fire is believed to be workers using torches on the roof.