BAYONNE — Two firefighters were injured while fighting a blaze that started in what city officials say was an illegal apartment on O’Brien Court on Oct. 28.
The Bayonne Fire Department arrived at 5 O’Brien Court shortly after midnight and were confronted with flames gushing out the basement window and up the east side of the building. Heavy smoke billowed from the attic three floors above.
The smoke in the attic had traveled through the interior walls of the building, according to city officials.
Firefighters broke out the basement windows to relieve the heat and pressurized smoke, and advanced hoses into the basement to extinguish the fire. The basement suffered substantial water and fire damage, while the remaining structure was permeated by smoke.
Twenty five firefighters fought the two-alarm blaze, which resulted in the displacement of nine building occupants. One of the tenants reportedly smelled smoke, and warned the other occupants to flee the building. The Red Cross was at the scene to assist the displaced.
Two firefighters suffered lacerations from broken glass, were treated at Bayonne Medical Center, and released from duty. Captain John Garrity received two stitches to the finger and Firefighter John Cleary a laceration to his ear.
According to Fire Chief Gregory Rogers, the fire investigator determined that the fire originated in the bedroom of an illegal apartment located in the basement. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.