A four-alarm fire at a Bayonne residential building on John F. Kennedy Boulevard displaced 45 people yesterday and the building was damaged badly enough to necessitate a demolition, officials said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
At about 12:50 p.m. on Thursday, the Bayonne Fire Department responded to 482 John F. Kennedy Blvd. for a reported fire, according to Fire Chief Keith Weaver.
Arriving fire companies found a heavy fire and smoke condition on the second floor of the building with the fire extending to the third floor and roof area.
The fire progressed to four alarms and the blaze had to be fought using outside hose streams due to the heavy fire conditions. Fire companies were able to contain the fire to the original fire building and prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.
The fire was placed under control at approximately 3:54 p.m. One civilian suffered a minor injury at the scene and was transported to Bayonne Medical Center and released and no other injuries were reported, Weaver said.
A total of 45 people are displaced and are under the care of the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross. The building suffered heavy fire damage and will be demolished, the fire chief added.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, as well as the Bayonne Police and Fire Departments.
Additionally, during the four-alarm fire a second, one-alarm fire began at 218 Broadway in an attached shed to the one-story main structure and was quickly extinguished.
Firefighters rescued four kittens from the shed and they were placed in the care of the Liberty Humane Society, officials said.
“I would like to commend all of the firefighters operating at the scene of the four-alarm fire for their hard work in containing the fire to the original fire building,” Weaver exclaimed.
“I would like to also thank all of the responding agencies and our mutual aid partners, the Jersey City Fire Department, Kearny Fire Department, and the North Hudson Regional Fire Department, for their support and assistance.”
Thank you Bayonne fire dept for all your hard work in putting out this massive fire and saving all those lives. You are true heroes.
Just left Bayonne and while I was there
it was heaven