About a dozen firefighters were inside the burning building, hauling hoses up to the third floor to battle the blaze from within. Mayor Michael Gonnelli, a volunteer firefighter and former fire chief, was among them.
“We had very, very heavy fire above us. It had already burned through the roof,” he said. “There were two firefighters above me.”
“Right after we entered, the roof collapsed,” said Fire Chief Bryan Schoch. “[Gonnelli] was on the stairs from the second to the third floor. Burning embers from the ceiling landed on him and he was burned.”
Gonnelli was taken to Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center with burns on his face, neck, and back. He was treated for first and second degree burns and released.
One other firefighter was injured in a separate incident.
Entire building destroyed
The alarm came in at 9:14 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. Firefighters rushed to the scene in the Sunset Key section of Harmon Cove, where they removed one occupant from the first floor of the dwelling. All other occupants had already escaped the blaze.
“It’s called wood platform construction,” explained Schoch about the buildings in the development. “The fire was on all floors of four residential units, traveling behind the common walls.”
After the roof collapsed the building was evacuated of firefighters and the department began a defensive operation, fighting the flames from the outside. The entire structure was burning, from the carport on ground level straight up through the roof.
“At one point it did threaten the building to the right,” said Schoch. “A little bit of fire hit that building and we were able to put it out before it created significant damage.”
Residents from the adjoining buildings were evacuated as a precaution, then allowed to return after the fire was extinguished.
“Right after we entered, the roof collapsed. [Gonnelli] was on the stairs from the second to the third floor. Burning embers from the ceiling landed on him and he was burned.” –Fire Chief Bryan Schoch
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“The entire building was impacted, all four units in that building,” continued Schoch. “The top two obviously suffered the most structural damage. The lower floors suffered fire and water damage. It’s structurally unsound and will have to be demolished to reinhabit.”
Four families were relocated with assistance from the town and the Office of Emergency Management.
A total of 43 firefighters battled the blaze, with the North Arlington Fire Department assisting at the scene while Kearny and Jersey City Fire Departments provided coverage for the rest of Secaucus.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause and origin of the fire. One working smoke detector was found in one of the four units.
Monument to volunteer firefighters
By coincidence, just over a week after the fire the town unveiled a new monument honoring its volunteer firefighters. Located just inside the northwest entrance of Buchmuller Park, the bronze-colored monument depicts a neatly-stacked pile of fireman’s gear.
“The town council and I felt it was time to do something to thank the firefighters who have served this community for over 100 years,” said Mayor Gonnelli this week.
An inscription on the monument reads, “Dedicated to past, present & future members of the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department with sincere appreciation for your service to our community.”
Gonnelli himself has been a firefighter since 1973 and was elected to a six-year term as fire chief in 2004. The previous town administration fought to remove him from the role, claiming a conflict in serving both as councilman and fire chief, resulting in court cases and a unanimous ruling by the state legislature allowing Gonnelli to hold both positions.
Renovated station nearing completion
Formed in 1891, the Secaucus Fire Department has five fire stations, including Washington Hook & Ladder, located at 272 County Ave. and Lincoln Ave. One ladder truck and one engine are housed at this location.
“That was the oldest firehouse in town,” said Schoch. “The original was built in 1905. An addition was added on the back in 1964. We added new additions over the last two years.”
The building has been undergoing renovation for some time. Once finished, the station will be nearly three times its original size, with an additional bay considerably larger than the one it replaced.
“It’s well over a year behind schedule,” said Gonnelli. “Currently it appears to be somewhat on track.”
“We’re getting closer,” said Schoch. “There are still some significant things that need to be installed prior to us moving into the building. We anticipate completion sometime this fall.”
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.