4 alarm so far (Westfield, NJ)

[Bronco90]

435 South Ave Westfield, NJ
Cross streets: Westfield Ave / Summit Ave
Murphy's Restaurant Caterers

About 3:45pm called in by a passer bye of heavy smoke coming from rear of building, confirmed by PD 1 min later.
Went right away to a 2nd alarm with Cranford tower, Roselle & Rahway engines. Upon arrival of MAC-7, 11 and 1 went to 3rd alarm.
Also evacuation tone sounded shortly later and all evacuated building and roof as heavy fire through the roof in center above kitchen. Roof compromised.

4:16pm, 4th alarm transmitted with a staging for an upcoming 5th alarm for manpower. PAR conducted all accounted for.
B and D exposers are 3 story house like structures, fire building looks like a 1 1/2 story commercial on corner of westfield ave.

4:53pm, roof collapsed, mostly toward front of building including a shoe store.
2 blitz fires in operation.

 

[RadioDitch]

Still going. Still defensive operations, trying to save the structures around it. Massive response thus far, including EMS rehab from throughout the county. Not sure of the Westfield FD clock, but UCFMA is at 120mics.

 

[Bronco90]

ok after a break for the Giant game and a pizza,
MAC-1 called in at 9:15pm that all mutual aid at the scene has been released as well as himself so they closed it out at the county. Oh and they closed it out as a 5 Alarm.

 

[Bronco90]

Ok final report... (as per The Star Ledger)

> 5-alarm fire
> Start time 3:25pm 1/22/2012
> FD arrived and found Clyne & Murphy Catering engulfed in flames.
> Fire spread through the roof area into the 7 other businesses (8 total)
> Under control at 6:15pm
> Cause still under investagation
> Building deemed unsafe to enter
> 125 Firefighters from 16 engine companies & 6 ladder companies
> Zero injuries

My note: I still heard Westfield putting out hot spots today and around
4 or 5pm they were turning the building back over to the owner
and building contractor.