A two-alarm fire that displaced 10 people on Feb. 24 may have started in the kitchen area, fire officials said.
Eight fire vehicles and 26 firefighters responded to a three-story apartment building at 424 Avenue E to find smoke and flames gushing out the third floor window.
According to Fire Chief Greg Rogers, firefighters brought the fire hose to the third floor rear apartment and put out the fire that involved two rooms.
“The bulk of the damage involved the kitchen,” he said. “Firefighters had to open up the roof to relieve the heat and smoke, and pull out the ceiling to ensure that the fire did not travel through the cockloft (the space between the ceiling and the roof).”
The fire, he said, is currently under investigation, although the kitchen area is the primary focus of the investigation.
The third floor received smoke and water damage, as did parts of the second floor.
A total of 10 people were displaced and sought shelter with family.
Other hazard
On Feb. 17, a tractor trailer with hazardous cargo overturned near the Route 440 entrance to the New Jersey Turnpike bridge near the intersection of Pulaski Street.
A truck that picked up freight in North Kingston, R.I., was bound for Global Terminal in Jersey City when it overturned.
“The Bayonne Fire Department Hazmat Team used hazardous material detection meters and equipment.” – Fire Chief Greg Rogers
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“The Bayonne Fire Department Hazmat Team used hazardous material detection meters and equipment to assess the overturned trailer for possible release,” Rogers said. “There were no positive readings on the meters.”
An additional inspection took place when the trailer was hoisted, and Rogers said they found no visual indication of a leak from the container.
But firefighters did work to clean up a massive diesel fluid spill that leaked from the truck’s fuel, which had made the road impassible. Firefighters spread a drying agent on the road to absorb the spill.
“The overturned trailer was placed on a lowboy tow unit and relocated to the Dente Brother’s Tow Yard in Newark, awaiting final inspection and offloading by the responsible party,” Rogers said.
The Department of Environmental Protection and the Hudson Regional Health Commission had representatives on the scene, Rogers said.