A three-alarm blaze at 38 Jackson Ave. in Hoboken caused two fatalities today and the Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force is investigating.
“The Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force is responding to a fatal fire at 38 Jackson Avenue in Hoboken in which two victims were found during fire suppression activities by the Hoboken Fire Department. More information to follow,” the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office tweeted this afternoon.
The fire broke out at a commercial facility that had been converted into small businesses and artists’ spaces and saw the Jersey City Fire Department and North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue back up the Hoboken Fire Department.
The building, which is broken up into A and B sections, is home to Hoboken Fight Club, a mixed martial arts and self-defense gym, Crossfit Hoboken, and Chambord Place – an artistic wallpaper company.
At 10:11 p.m., Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez released more information.
This morning at approximately 12:20 a.m., a Hoboken police officer on patrol heard a loud explosion on Jackson Street. First responders to the area found an active fire in a warehouse located at 38 Jackson St., Suarez said in a statement.
The HFD responded and was assisted in extinguishing the fire by the JCFD and NHRF&R. The fire damaged several surrounding buildings and several of the building sustained severe water damage.
The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is pending.
During fire suppression activities, firefighters found two victims in the warehouse and they were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause and manner of death of the victims are pending the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Regional Arson Task Force is actively investigating this incident with assistance from the Hoboken Fire Department and Hoboken Police Department.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office website at http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/.
All information will be kept confidential.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with new information.
