Tag Archives: New Jersey

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.

Apartment Building, Residential, Residential High Rise

Hoboken, NJ – Residential high-rise fire suppressed by sprinkler system

One person was injured when a three-alarm fire broken out in a Hoboken apartment building Wednesday, police said.  It’s not clear what caused the blaze at 2 Marine View Plaza, but two apartments were heavily damaged, according to police. The sprinkler system helped quickly knock down the fire.  No one was in the apartments but at least two other residents were complaining of smoke inhalation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Toms River, NJ – Sprinkler system keeps apartment fire from spreading

Residents who were forced from a Toms River apartment building amid a Thanksgiving morning fire are expected to be able to go home on Monday, Toms River officials said Saturday.  The fire at Highland Plaza that forced 100 residents to evacuate was caused by careless smoking, said Kevin Esposito, chief inspector with the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention. The resident of the apartment was treated at Community Medical Center, Toms River, for smoke inhalation, he said.   The fire started before 7 a.m. on Thanksgiving and authorities were alerted by an automated alarm; fire personnel arriving at the complex at 91 Highland Parkway saw smoke coming from an apartment window.

Esposito said firefighters under the command of Chief Mike Muttie from Toms River Fire Company 1 entered Tower C through a stairwell and were able to extinguish the fire without incident and extension to any other apartment. A sprinkler head outside the burning apartment activated and kept the fire from extending into the hallway, he said.  The residents initially were taken to Toms River High School South with assistance from the Toms River school district, which provided buses for the evacation amid the frigid temperatures, said Jillian Messina of the Toms River Police Department. Some residents were picked up by family and others were placed in temporary housing by the building owner, she said.  Paul Daley, Toms River emergency management coordinator, said it was expected most residents would be able to return to the building on Monday.

Other - Manufacturing

Lodi, NJ – Fire in industrial building doused by sprinkler system

Sprinklers helped douse a fire in a Lodi industrial building last Sunday night  Firefighters “were met with heavy smoke and an activated sprinkler head,” the borough fire department said.  Crews stretched a hose line into the building, located the source of the fire and extinguished it, the department said.  No injuries were reported.  Firefighters from Garfield, Saddle Brook and Wallington assisted their colleagues at the Del Glenn Avenue blaze. Their Rochelle Park and Maywood colleagues covered the borough for them.  The Lodi Fire Prevention Bureau was investigating the cause.