The Sayreville Fire Department responded to Stadium Auto Wreckers around 9:15 a.m. on June 27 after a vehicle being dismantled by a worker erupted into flames. The worker made an attempt to extinguish the fire, but quickly became overwhelmed by the flames.
Responding apparatus knew they had a working fire as a large column of smoke was visible from a distance. Upon arrival, firefighters found the building fully engulfed in flames. A water supply was established and master streams were set up to start battling the blaze from the exterior. Heavy fire was starting to consume the roof, sending thick black smoke into the sky towards the Raritan River.
Several master streams flowed thousands of gallons of water onto the severely weakened building that continued to rage. The roof caved in and exterior walls started to crumble within a half hour. Also, power lines in close proximity of the building started to smoke and weaken due to the intense heat, forcing firefighters to move all hand lines further away from the building.
Master streams continued to flow well into the afternoon before the bulk of the fire was darkened. A demolition crew was summoned to the scene to tear down sections of the building to allow firefighters access to residual hot spots.
The building was deemed a total loss and is due to be razed by a demolition crew.
The employee dismantling the vehicle suffered minor burns to his hands and arms, and was transported by EMS to Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, where he was treated and released. Several firefighters on scene were treated by EMS for minor injuries.
Mutual aid was provided by local fire departments, including Perth Amboy and Woodbridge Township.
The cause of the fire is being investigated, but appears to be accidental in nature.
