Fort Lee NJ Multiple Alarm, 3011 Edwin Ave. 02-14-19

A little after 1600 hours on February 14th, 2019 Fort Lee NJ Fire Dept was dispatched out to 3011 Edwin Ave. With the duty crews just starting their shifts in the firehouses companies arrived quickly to find heavy smoke showing from the front of the 5 story OMD. A working fire was discovered in the basement and an aggressive interior attack commenced as members of the truck co conducted searches, ventilated and made several rescues of occupants off fire escapes and out windows. Fairly quickly into the fire co's reported a collapse of some sort in the 1st floor apartment above the fire but at this point they were also reporting water on the fire. However, conditions started to deteriorate, heavy smoke started pushing from the upper floors and from the roof, fire was visible in the 1st and 2nd floor apartments above the original fire area and additional lines were stretched. Command requested an additional engine and ladder from mutual aid to the scene as well as the Mask Service Unit from Hackensack. As the conditions further deteriorated and crews reporting fire on additional floors command struck the 2nd and 3rd alarms. Finally with no head way being made, the order was made for all co's to evacuate the building, by this time, heavy fire was venting out of numerous apartments in the rear of the building and breaking through the roof. Eventually the fire engulfed the entire structure with the roof and several floors collapsing. 6 Ladder pipes, 1 deck gun and numerous ground monitors and hand lines were put to work as large embers rained down on the fireground and surrounding area. Although appearing to be one very large building, the south side was actually separated by a fire wall, this as well as aggressive firefighting kept the fire from extending into the south building. Several hundred people have been left homeless but thankfully all occupants were accounted for and only 3 firefighters suffered minor injuries. The fire was placed under control at 21:00 hours although companies remained on the scene through the night and into the next day hitting hot spots. The cause of the fire is under investigation. I would like to thank the Fort Lee Fire Dept and Fort Lee Police Dept for providing me the access to the fire scene, allowing me to obtain these photographs.