Upper Saddle River NJ 5th alarm, 34 Hillsdale Ave. 10-16-22

At approximately 16:40 on October 16th 2022 The Upper Saddle River NJ Fire Department was dispatched for an activated fire alarm at 34 Hillsdale Ave. The dispatcher started receiving calls for a house fire at the address and advised the responding chief. On arrival a 2nd alarm was immediately requested by the chief and he reported a well involved very large 3-1/2 story frame home. Heavy smoke was visible for miles as companies were calling in service and enroute to the scene. With no hydrants in the area and the need for a positive water supply command requested a 3rd alarm at 17:00 and reported fire on all floors and through the roof of the 10,000 square foot mansion. A ladder pipe was set up as well as a tower ladder as an engine company prepared to draft from a nearby swimming pool. With the home still well involved, a 4th alarm was transmitted and a tanker shuttle was set up on Hillside Ave. The home was within a few hundred feet from the New York state line and numerous departments from Rockland County NY responded to the scene along with multiple departments from the northern end of Bergen County NJ. Within an hour the entire roof collapsed along with all the floors and portions of the exterior walls. At 19:25 command reported that the main body of fire was knocked down however heavy pockets of fire remained and all companies continued to operate with the 2 aerial streams performing hydraulic overhaul. A 5th alarm was requested at 20:15 for relief and additional station coverage. The fire continued to smolder through out the night, no injuries were reported and the origin is being investigated by the Fire Prevention Bureau.