Two families were displaced on Nov. 15, 2014 after a fire broke out on the second floor of their home. Firefighters were able to make an aggressive interior attack and prevent a total loss of the two-family dwelling.
The Linden Fire Department responded just before midnight to 203 West 16th St. after being dispatched for a reported house fire.
Firefighters arrived on scene and found heavy fire venting from three second floor windows on the B-side of a 2 1/2-story wood-frame dwelling.
A ground ladder was set up on the B-side to check conditions and vent windows from the exterior as crews advanced handlines to the second floor, where heavy fire conditions were encountered. The interior crews were able to find the room quickly and darken the fire down within 10 minutes.
Once the fire was darkened, a heavy smoke condition existed throughout the second floor and finished attic space. The second and third floor windows were taken out to vent the building of the remaining smoke, while crews checked for extension into the attic. Some extension was found, but it was extinguished quickly.
The heavy fire damage was held to the rear of the home, but smoke damage was evident throughout the second floor and attic. The incident commander declared the fire under control within a half hour, but crews remained on scene conducting extensive overhaul to ensure all hot spots were extinguished.
The American Red Cross was notified to assist the displaced residents with seeking temporary shelter. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported at the scene. The home was deemed uninhabitable due to the amount of damage sustained.
Mutual aid fire departments from Union County assisted at the scene and covered the city during the incident.
The fire is being investigated by Linden fire officials.
