Orange Firefighters Battle Second-Alarm in Auto Body Shop
By CHRIS TOMPKINS, Senior Correspondent | February 15, 2022 | NEW JERSEY
Story No. 021622102
Photo by Chris Tompkins www.btfirephotos.com
Photo by Chris Tompkins www.btfirephotos.com
Photo by Chris Tompkins www.btfirephotos.com
Photo by Chris Tompkins www.btfirephotos.com
Photo by Chris Tompkins www.btfirephotos.com
Photo by Chris Tompkins www.btfirephotos.com
ORANGE, NJ - Firefighters fought to contain a two-alarm fire late Tuesday night, February 15th, as heavy flames tore through a two-story auto body shop at 617 Scotland Road.
A reported structure fire with small explosions in an auto body shop was dispatched around 11:00 P.M. Orange FD's Battalion Chief arrived on scene and reported light smoke showing, and after a quick investigation requested a working fire to be transmitted.
Firefighters began an interior attack with a one-and-three-quarter inch hand line and made their way to the second floor where they reported heavy smoke showing, but no signs of fire. Command noticed conditions beginning to deteriorate, and popping sounds from exploding paint cans, and all members were ordered to evacuate the building. Once all members were accounted for, they would go to exterior operations.
Heavy fire and smoke consumed the two-story, 'L' shaped building, and a second-alarm was transmitted. The fully involved structure emitted heavy embers and threatened two exposures on the 'C' and 'D' sides of the building. Montclair and Millburn put their aerials into operation, along with a deck gun and several two-and-a-half inch hand lines.
Command requested an additional engine above the second-alarm as firefighters were able to contain the fire in just over an hour. Exposures 'C' and 'D' suffered minor exterior damage, and the fire was held to the original building.
Mutual aid from Maplewood, Montclair, South Orange, Millburn, Irvington, West Orange, and Belleville assisted on scene. Nutley hazmat was requested due to chemicals within the building, and the DPW was also requested with salt due to icy conditions. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This article is a direct street report from our correspondent and has not been edited by the 1st Responder newsroom.