04.17.12 - 597 Monroe Avenue - Elizabeth, NJ.
Massive fire broke out last week on Tuesday April 17, 2012 at 8:30 p.m. that destroyed three townhouses in Elizabeth, New Jersey that injuring three people. Dozen of nearby homes at Fairmount and Monroe Avenues were evacuated as a precaution.
Firefighters from nine companies took about two hours to get the fast-moving fire under control.
The first calls for help came in at about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday and when firefighters arrived they found two buildings completely engulfed in flames and the fire quickly spreading. It took two and a half hours to get the blaze under control and early Wednesday morning firefighters were still pouring water on smoky hot spots.
“We just saw the fire started and we came outside and I just got my children. Whatever we have on, that’s all we have. We have nothing else left and we lost everything,” cried Suzie Raposo, a single mother of three.
“I just saw all the flames coming from next door, burning the back porch,” she said. “Everything is in there. I got out with my kids, which is the most important thing. My daughter lost a cat in there but…all I have left is the clothes that I’m wearing. The clothes that my kids are wearing.”
Here's video footage provided by Ed Gray, allhandsgoingtowork on YouTube, of the fire ground operations...
According to fire officials the blaze started at the rear of one of the buildings and spread wildly after it was fueled by siding made of asphalt and petroleum products.
Officials say two people were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation. A firefighter suffered a shoulder injury and was also taken to a hospital.
Neighbors told Hennessey that the fire may have started when a dog knocked over a lit candle. Cause of 4-alarm townhouse fire In Elizabeth, NJ is under investigation.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
