A baa-baa-baaad scene was averted on Tuesday afternoon when sheep, goats, chickens, and pigeons were saved from a three-alarm fire at Marzigliano’s Live Poultry Market at 5217 Bergenline Ave. in West New York.
Approximately 80 firefighters from the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue responded to the blaze.
Residents in the neighboring buildings were evacuated, and the firemen rounded up the market’s prized livestock of chickens, pigeons and even goats.
“It began in the back room in the ceiling of the poultry shop, but the cause and the origin of the fire is still under investigation,” said Tim Griffin, police director of West New York. “The owner was on the premises when the fire began.”
Fourteen fire companies responded to the scene after the call first came in at 4:49 p.m., and were joined by officers of the West New York Police Department. Additional assistance was offered by the Jersey City Fire Department.
“It was a one-story building,” said NHRFR Chief Brion McEldowney. “It was in the rear of the building and extended into the hanging ceiling space.”
He added, “Because of the nature of the occupancy, there were quite a few chickens [and other animals] inside the building, and firefighters did their best to protect them. Once the Humane Society arrived, they were removed from the building. Most if not all the animals were recovered.”
Although momentarily attempting their own great escape, the goats were quickly rounded up and contained in a corral of garbage cans and Dumpsters.
“There was a sheep and some goats that initially ran out of the building once the firefighters went in, and they corralled them into one area,” said McEldowney.
Damaged, but can rebuild
A well-known and long-standing establishment on Bergenline Avenue, Marzigliano’s Market suffered extensive roof, ceiling, and extensive interior damage due to the smoke and water. But the fire was contained within two hours.
“Firefighters knocked down the major body of the fire and it was declared contained two hours later, but there were still pockets of fire due to a roof collapse,” McEldowney said on Wednesday. “It was still smoldering at 7:30 this morning. The natural roof partially collapsed into the hanging ceiling.”
Some damage was also caused to the exterior of some of the surrounding buildings.
“There was an adjoining building on the south side, which we were initially concerned about the fire extending to, but we did a major effort to confine it to the building of origin,” said McEldowney.
A majority of the neighbors were able to return to their homes later Tuesday evening.
“We did have one to two families displaced, and the Red Cross was able to put them up at the Howard Johnson Hotel in North Bergen,” said Griffin.
Although there was extensive damage to the building and West New York construction officials will be doing their own evaluation, McEldowney feels that the building can be repaired.
“As always, the firefighters of North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue did a tremendous job, and I commend them,” said McEldowney. “If they weren’t trained as well as they are and didn’t put in that extra effort like they always do, the outcome might have been different.”
There were no injuries to the firefighters, civilians, or the market’s furry little critters.
“The animals were all taken away by the Humane Society and they are attempting to relocate them,” said Griffin.