A week after a five-alarm fire at a senior citizen complex claimed the life of a 71-year-old resident, the neighbors are trying to put the pieces of their lives together again.
“They’re pretty resilient,” said Marilyn Rotolo, the building manager of the 15-story, 308-unit Cullum complex on Grand Avenue and 64th Street, where long-time resident Mary Cosentino perished in her apartment. “They’re starting to pick up and carry on. Things are getting back to normal as best as possible.”
Rotolo was survived by two brothers and three sisters. She was never married. Little other information was available.
According to North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue Co-Director Michael DeOrio, the intense fire, which called for 70 members of the NHRFR, as well as assistance from neighboring companies from Jersey City and Hoboken, could have been much worse if not for the efforts of the residents.
“We could have easily lost many more lives,” DeOrio said.
According to DeOrio, the NHRFR received its first call at 5:59 p.m. last Friday. The fire was located on the 14th floor of the facility.
“When our men got to the 14th floor, they encountered heavy smoke,” DeOrio said. “When they opened the door of the apartment, they found heavy flames. It immediately went to the fourth alarm.”
Residents were instructed to remain inside their apartments while the firefighters fought the blaze.
According to DeOrio, most followed the instructions, putting wet towels under the door frames to keep the smoke out as much as possible.
What also helped the situation were the seminars conducted by the township’s Fire Prevention Bureau, headed by Fire Inspector Tom Irving.
“Periodically, the bureau holds these seminars to explain the procedures of what to do in case of a fire,” DeOrio said. “It’s an educational program and obviously, it works. They’re told to stay in their apartments until the firefighters come to rescue them. Of course, the people were nervous, but they did the right thing by staying put.”
DeOrio said the reason they want residents to remain inside their apartments is because they don’t want to have fleeing residents interfering with the firefighting operations.
While the fire was contained and limited to Cosentino’s apartment, the corridors had extensive heat and smoke, so it was important for the residents to follow the instructions.
“The residents were very worried, but we told them to stay tight and don’t panic,” DeOrio said. “They just had to wait it out.”
Rotolo believed that the seminars definitely helped.
“They remembered what they were told,” Rotolo said. “They all waited and I think that played a big part in the small number of people who were injured.”
The NHRFR’s high-angle rescue unit was put into action, in case they had to rescue residents with basket stretchers.
“They set up rope rescue just in case,” DeOrio said.
The fire was brought under control by 12:30 a.m. Saturday. The 14th floor received some smoke and water damage, so residents of the 13th, 14th and 15th floors were evacuated and placed either with family members or in other temporary housing.
Ten residents were treated for smoke inhalation and anxiety. One remains hospitalized.
Eighteen members of the NHRFR were treated for a variety of injuries, ranging from facial burns to a broken nose. Two firefighters were admitted to Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, while four were admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Hoboken.
“Despite the injuries, everyone came through pretty well,” DeOrio said. “Luckily, it wasn’t a spreading fire.”
Rotolo said that most of the residents have returned to their apartments, although the damage to the 14th floor was enough to keep it closed for the time being.
“Approximately 20 residents had to be placed in temporary housing,” Rotolo said. “We had a little problem with the electricity on the floor, so the residents have been placed with either family members or other temporary housing, until it’s fixed.”
Because there was a fatality, the NHRFR would not discuss possible causes for the fire, referring the case to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, which was still conducting its investigation at press time.
The fatality was the second caused by fire in North Bergen this year. Earlier this year, former Board of Education President Mary Barone perished in a fire in her home.
Rotolo said that the tragedy won’t go away soon, but the residents are trying to cope as best as possible.
“Many were out shopping today,” Rotolo said. “They’re trying to get back to the swing of things. It will take time.”