At least 37 residents were displaced by a five-alarm fire in Union City and a six-alarm blaze in Weehawken that firefighters fought simultaneously last night.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The first blaze broke out at 416 8th St. in Union City at about 10:36 p.m. and led to 22 people being relocated after six buildings were impacted, according to North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Chief David Donnarumma.
Three of the buildings received heavy damage (including 414 and 418 8th St.), while three others were “exposure buildings” that suffered less severe, though still significant damage.
At approximately 10:39 p.m., firefighters responded to 207 and 209 Jane St. in Weehawken, where both buildings “were completely lost” due to the fire damage and 15 people displaced, Donnarumma stated.
Two other buildings also received some exposure damage.
“If it wasn’t for regionalization where we have more manpower on the scene, there would’ve been a lot more loss of property, as well as our mutual aid partners who did a great job – as well as the mutual aid coordinators,” the fire chief added.
“Without everybody involved and the extraordinary efforts of the firefighters, many more buildings would’ve been lost.”
Donnarumma also noted that no civilians were injured, with three firefighters working the Union City fire and then another three working the Weehawken fire. They were all treated at the hospital for minor injuries and released.
He further stated that the origin of both fires is going to be investigated by the arson unit of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Perhaps Stack should fix his housing stock instead of complaining about Hoboken… imagine all that aid he wouldn’t get if it weren’t for Hoboken’s wealth and progress? Not to mention his multiple paychecks….