DOVER, NJ - Just before 7:30 on the evening of October 26th, Dover Fire Department was dispatched to 331 Richards Avenue, JD Automotive & Truck, owned by Mayor James Dodd, for a reported commercial structure fire.

Multiple calls reported the structure to be fully involved with the roof about to give way. There was an initial report of someone inside the building, prompting arriving patrol units to immediately attempt entry. Met with heavy smoke, they were forced to retreat, unable to enter the building.

It was then confirmed that the structure was unoccupied and closed to service, switching the focus to evacuating surrounding houses. A 2nd alarm was immediately struck, as debris fell from all sides. The building deteriorated rapidly, collapsing in on itself, prompting the 3rd alarm assignment.

Fire departments from across Morris County worked efficiently to contain and extinguish the fire. The cause remains under investigation.