Stiff winds and sub-freezing temperatures hovering in the teens prompted a fifth alarm call for mutual aid from surrounding communities to battle a violently relentless blaze in the Pio Costa industrial complex at 1275 Bloomfield Ave. The complex houses some fifteen or so buildings of various sizes for retail outlets, warehouses and small businesses.
The fire, which was reported around 6:00 pm on January 30, originated in one of the larger structures, 125’x 375’ in size, and quickly went to three alarms and was subsequently upgraded to a fourth and fifth alarm.
Five aerial streams, several ground monitors and hand lines, surrounded the building, hammering away at flames reaching 75’ into the air at times. Explosions could be heard from within the structure as balls of fire leaped into the air. Companies made trench cuts in the roof in an effort to halt the spread of the fire, but the flames were too intense and spread from within the structure. Companies made repeated attempts to enter the building but were forced out when conditions deteriorated and presented imminent danger to the crews. Water was freezing on contact with the ground causing hazardous walking conditions on the fire ground. Crews were being rotated as relief from the freezing temperatures and the heat from the blaze.
The Gong Club canteen unit from Jersey City responded to provide hot drinks and snacks for the crews. A NJ Transit bus provided a warm rehab area for those who wished to take advantage of it and several BLS units were stationed on the scene.
As of the writing of this, the incident was more than four hours old and still burning out of control. There were no reported injuries and a full investigation will follow.
Photos by Ron Johnson
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