Tag Archives: New Jersey

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Wayne, NJ – Sprinkler system helps contain fire caused by pallet full of rubber pellets; No injuries reported

All five Wayne volunteer fire companies responded to a structure fire at the Royal Adhesive plant on Burgess Place in Wayne on Friday afternoon.  

Royal Adhesive is a commercial plant that manufactures specialty adhesive products that are used in all industries.  “This site houses numerous hazardous products and always put the Fire Department and EMS on guard when we are called to the site,” said Bob Minnarick the Wayne Fire Commissioner. 

Initially, Wayne Fire Companies 1 and 2 were summoned by the first alarm, but as more calls came, reporting smoke coming from the building, a second alarm was raised and Fire Companies 3 and 5 came to the scene.  Once it was confirmed that there was a sprinkler activation in the plant and two pull stations were activated, Wayne went to a third alarm activating Company 4. 

At the same time the Wayne Special Response Team (SRT) the Hazmat team was activated. 

The Royal Adhesive management team informed the Fire Department that the substances in the area of the fire were not hazardous materials which made the job easier for the volunteers. 

With the help of the in-house sprinkler system, the fire was extinguished in thirty minutes.  The burning pallets of rubber pellets was extinguished and subsequently removed from the production area. 

The sprinkler company responded to the scene and replaced the activated heads and recharge the system.  The alarm system was able to be reset and placed back into operation.  The fire was declared under control at 2:11pm.  The last fire unit cleared the scene at 3:43pm. 

Ten pieces of apparatus responded to the scene and Company 4 stood by  for coverage.  There were no injuries and approximately forty firefighters responded to the scene.   

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

New Milford, NJ – Sprinkler system contains fire to single room at nursing home

The residents of a New Milford care facility were safely removed after a small but smoky fire broke out Thursday morning, Chief of Police Brian Clancy said.

Police responded to Woodcrest Center Care One on River Road at about 9 a.m. on a report of fire on the second floor. Officers Darrell Marshall and William Reardon, along with staff, helped get a number of disabled patients out safely, Clancy said.

The small fire, which started on a bed and spread to a wall, was extinguished by the facility’s sprinkler system and contained to a single room, Clancy said. The room was empty when the fire started.

A total of 22 people were treated for smoke inhalation, with 16 going to the hospital. Most of those who suffered smoke inhalation were staff who evacuated patients from the second floor, where the fire broke out.

River Road was closed for two hours before the facility was reopened at around 11 a.m. No one will be displaced due to the fire, Clancy said.

He went on to thank the agencies that responded, including ambulances from Hackensack, Holy Name and Englewood hospitals as well as from Teaneck, Bergenfield, Dumont and River Edge.

“All departments involved worked really well together and we were able to avoid any serious injuries to the residents, employees and emergency personnel. The Care One staff and police officers that were first on scene really did a great job relocating disabled patients from the fire floor,” Clancy said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Secaucus , NJ – Sprinkler system puts out fire at apartment started by 12-year-old boy

A 12-year-old Secaucus boy suffered minor burns and he was charged after police say he set fire to the bathroom of his family’s apartment, Secaucus officials said.

Secaucus firefighters responded to 120 Park Plaza Dr., a new apartment complex near the Walmart and Sam’s Club shopping area, at 10:30 p.m. on June 26, Secaucus police Capt. Dennis Miller said.

By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, Miller said. The apartment suffered severe water damage and three apartments on the floor below also suffered water damage, Miller said.

An investigation, conducted with the assistance of the Hudson County Regional Fire Task Force, revealed that the fire was set on purpose, Miller said.

The boy, whose name was withheld because he is a minor, was charged on July 1 with arson and causing or risking widespread injury or damage.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Waldrick, NJ – Fire caused by air conditioning unit at Pizzeria kept in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Sprinklers at a Waldwick pizzeria kept a blaze at bay until borough firefighters could douse it around midnight Monday, authorities said.

Smoke poured through Waldwick Pizza, as well as the adjacent Waldwick Bar and Liquors, Waldwick Wash and Dry and Giant Farmers Market on Wyckoff Avenue.

Firefighters forced open the pizzeria’s rear door to get at the flames, which were tamped by sprinklers.

A second alarm brought additional manpower to the smoky blaze.

No injuries were reported.

Borough Police Officer Jake Wanamaker was on patrol when he heard the alarm, saw the fire and alerted emergency responders, Lt. Thomas Dowling said.

Authorities were investigating the cause, the lieutenant said.

“The Health Department also was notified and was conducting a follow-up investigation,” Dowling said.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Oxford, NJ – Mattress fire at Rehabilitation and Nursing Center extinguished by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A mattress fire Tuesday inside Warren Haven Rehabilitation and Nursing Center was extinguished by the facility’s sprinkler system, authorities said.

It was reported at 12:07 p.m. on the second floor at the 350 Oxford Road facility in Mansfield Township, according to township police Chief Michael Reilly.

It occurred in Room 243, which was unoccupied at the time and in an unoccupied wing, said Warren County Fire Marshal Joe Lake.

No one was injured, and the cause of the fire remained under investigation by township police, Lake and the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Upon activation of a fire alarm, staff initiated their evacuation protocol, police said. Residents there were allowed to remain inside, behind closed doors, according to Lake.

Firefighters vented smoke from the building, and residents were allowed to go about their day, police said. 

Responding to the incident along with township police, Lake and the prosecutor’s office were the Mansfield Township Fire Department, Tri-County Fire Department, Oxford Township Fire Department, Independence Township Fire Department, Oxford Rescue Squad, Washington Borough Rescue Squad, Hackettstown Rescue Squad and Warren County Hazmat.

Privately owned, Warren Haven says it offers respite, short-term sub-acute rehabilitation and long-term care stays, as well as a secured memory care unit.

The facility was fully operational immediately following the incident and is working with local officials and the New Jersey Department of Health to investigate what happened, Warren Haven CEO Amy Austin said in a statement.

“Warren Haven remains committed to providing a safe environment of care for all of its residents/patients, employees, families, and visitors, and will continue to follow the guidance of the New Jersey State Department of Health and local authorities as necessary and appropriate,” Austin stated.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Shrewsbury, NJ – Sprinkler system puts out dryer fire at assisted living facility

Residents who are part of an assisted living community off Route 35 were temporarily evacuated Thursday evening after a fire broke out in a basement dryer in one of the residential buildings, authorities said.

The incident occurred at Brandywine Living at The Sycamore, according to Facebook post from Shrewsbury Hose Company 1.

The incident was first reported after 6 p.m.

“The fire was quickly extinguished by the sprinklers and our firefighters,” the post said. “An evacuation of the facility was initiated with the assistance of Shrewsbury PD (Police Department), and several Fire and EMS partners were requested for assistance. Damage was limited to the dryer room, and all of the residents were returned to the building.”

The Eatontown Fire Department and EMS, Little Silver Fire Department and EMS, Oceanport Fire Department, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Monmouth County EMS Task Force and Shrewsbury and Eatontown police departments all responded to the blaze, the post said.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Princeton, NJ – Overnight fire at Princeton University extinguished by sprinkler system

A fire broke out at Fine Hall on the Princeton campus around midnight Saturday and was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system. The building is closed as crews clean up water damage. The fire was contained to a classroom on the 12th floor. Sprinkler water runoff affected that floor and most of those below it. Classes will not be held in the building Monday and Tuesday. University officials are working to move the classes to other locations. Affected students and faculty members will be notified by email.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. A firefighter from the Princeton Fire Department needed medical assistance and was taken to a hospital and released. No one else was hurt. Other agencies responding to the fire included Kingston Fire Company, Lawrence Road Fire Department, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Plainsboro Fire Company, Princeton Fire Marshal, Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, and West Windsor Emergency Services. From the University, responders included the Department of Public Safety, the Facilities organization, Site Protection and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Emergency Services.

Retail

Toms River, NJ – Compactor fire at store is put out with help from sprinkler system

Crews worked to extinguisher a compactor fire at the Stop & Shop on Route 37 East on Friday. Toms River Fire Inspector Kevin Esposito told Jersey Shore Online a lingering smell of smoke remains in the store. No damage to the store and no injuries have been reported. The store had to be shut down for a time because a sprinkler head activated by the compactor. However, the store should be reopened shortly, Esposito said. He said fire companies from Toms River, Silverton and East Dover responded. No cause has been determined as of yet.

Apartment Building, Residential

Paterson, NJ – Sprinkler system extinguished fire in 13-story apartment building

Two residents of the Colt Arms apartments suffered smoke inhalation early Friday morning when a fire broke out in the ninth-floor garbage chute in one of Paterson’s tallest buildings, officials said.

The sprinkler system in the 13-story structure extinguished the blaze, but there was smoke and water damage in some homes, said deputy fire chief Michael Fleming.

Residents of the ninth floor were evacuated from their apartments and waited in the lobby area for about an hour until firefighters cleared the scene, Fleming said.

Authorities have not identified the cause of the fire, which was reported at 1:17 p.m., officials said.

Government/Military

Roselle, NJ – Fire in DPW garage contained by sprinkler system

Units from the Roselle and Linden Fire Depts. were called out to the Department of Public Works (DPW) building on the 1100 Block of Chandler Ave. at approximately 7 p.m. on Sunday evening after a fire broke out in the back area of the building. Correction: According to authorities, a heater pipe which was a gas heater came apart blew flames out the on to a pallet of leave bags. The sprinkler system activated and helped to contain the fire until the firemen arrived and turned off gas and finished extinguishing the fire. No major damage or injuries were reported.