Garfield NJ 3rd Alarm, 103 & 105 Jewell St. 10-25-15

On the morning of October 25th, 2015, the Garfield NJ Fire Dept. assisted by several area departments fought a raging 3 alarm fire which destroyed 2 century old buildings, leaving at least 15 people homeless and 2 businesses destroyed. The fire started around 08:45 in 103 Jewell St. a 2 story type 5 structure built in 1911 with post and beam construction and quickly spread to 105 a similar building on the D exposure separated by inches. As companies arrived, encountering heavy fire, a 2nd alarm was requested bringing mutual aid to the scene. With the B exposure, a 2 story type 3 OMD severely threatened and with companies encountering water supply issues, a 3rd alarm was sounded bringing in additional companies. The fire burned out of control for almost 3 hours before being declared under control however hot spots continued to flare up through the day and into the night. Both buildings suffered major collapses and needed to be demolished, but the D exposure was spared with minor damage. Several occupants and 3 firefighters suffered non life threatening injuries and the fire is still under investigation but at this time considered accidental.