renew: According to the latest news from emergency alert sources, the fire in Belleville, Essex County, New Jersey has now been upgraded to a Level 6 alert. Ladder truck units were evacuated due to concerns that the structure was about to collapse, and the fire continued to worsen and spread to nearby buildings. Crews also reportedly faced water supply issues, further complicating firefighting efforts.
Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid the area as emergency operations are ongoing.
preliminary report: A fire breaks out in Belleville, Essex County, New Jersey. According to initial reports, the fire broke out on Cortlandt Street between Holmes Street and Jolamon Street. Videos shared by witnesses and local residents showed large amounts of smoke rising from the area. People are advised to avoid the area as firefighters work to control the blaze.
What we know so far
A fire broke out Sunday at a commercial building at 347 Cortlandt Street in Belleville, Essex County, New Jersey.
Firefighters arrived to find flames engulfing a two-story brick commercial building, according to the alert page on Facebook. This prompted an immediate response from multiple agencies.
The initial call resulted in a second alert mission and a request for additional support from nearby Newark units. Bell and siren canteen units were also deployed to assist firefighters in their work in challenging conditions.
As conditions worsened, officials escalated the incident to a third alarm, with crews forced to take defensive action due to the severity of the fire. Flames were soon seen breaking through the roof, leading to multiple ladder trucks being deployed to put out the blaze from above.
Command then requested an air step truck to replenish the firefighters’ breathing apparatus while issuing an emergency warning to all personnel to stay away from designated collapse areas around the building.
