Union City NJ Fatal 4th alarm 1404 & 1406 Summit Ave. and 4th alarm at 1309 Central Ave. 03-04-17

At just after 0100 hours on March 4th, 2017 North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue Dept. responded to a building fire in Union City NJ at 1404 Summit Ave. On arrival companies encountered heavy fire in a 3 story frame building with people trapped and fire extending into exposure B a 2 story frame attached. A 3rd alarm was requested as companies made rescues and attempted to knock down the fire. With heavy fire conditions all members were withdrawn from the building. Exterior lines were set up including L-1's ladder pipe as the heavy fire caused a large brand problem being carried east due to high winds and threatening other structures. Approximately 30 minutes into the fire, residents started alerting firefighters of a fire involving the Sts Joseph & Michael Catholic Church at 1303 Central Ave, 1 block to the east, heavy fire was showing from the main steeple of the 100+ year old heavy timber church. A separate box was transmitted and as companies arrived a collapse zone was set up and companies worked on protecting exposures, within 1 hour the steeple collapsed into the street taking down numerous electrical lines which were arcing and created additional hazards. Ultimately both fires went to 4th alarms, mutual aid companies from numerous departments in the area as well as a task force from FDNY consisting of E-1, E-14, TL-12 and BC-8 responded to the fires or provided coverage. The fires were placed under control at around 0600 and companies remained on the scene throughout the day hitting hot spots. The 2 original buildings were destroyed and the church suffered extensive damage, several residents were injured and sadly a 2 year old boy was trapped and lost his life and his father suffered critical burn injuries, several firefighters also suffered minor injuries, the cause of the original fire is under investigation.