PHOTOS BY BRUNO CABALLERO/ FOURTEEN PEOPLE WERE FORCED OUT OF THEIR APARTMENTS IN A MARCH 6 FIRE. INSET: FIRE ERUPTS ON TOP FLOOR OF 50 KEARNY AVE.
By Anthony J. Machcinski
KEARNY–
It’s déjà vu all over again in Kearny.
A second fire traced to a fallen candle in a little more than a week displaced 14 people from a three-story, multi-family building at 50 Kearny Ave., off Woodland Ave., on March 6.
A four-alarm fire at 187 Brighton Ave. that fire officials also blamed on a falling candle left one family out in the old on Feb. 27.
A passerby walking along Kearny Ave. reported seeing flames coming from a third-floor apartment a little after 3 p.m. Nearly 30 firefighters and at least 10 police officers responded to the scene. Pre-rush hour traffic was diverted off Kearny Ave. between Johnston Ave. and Rose St. The two-alarm fire was deemed under control within 45 minutes of the initial call.
Harrison and East Newark Fire Departments also responded to the blaze while North Arlington and Jersey City provided stand-by coverage at Kearny firehouses.
The fire left 11 adults, three children and three cats homeless. They were transported, initially, to an emergency shelter set up at Washington School before they were eventually taken in by either family members or by the Red Cross.
Kearny Fire Chief Steve Dyl said that the building, which is occupied on the ground floor by Bottega Gabriella, a vintage and antique store, owned by Eder Assuncao, “will be shut down pending a review by the building department.”
The blaze left one police officer injured from falling debris, but he was not listed as being seriously hurt.
The Knox Presbyterian Church, just south of the blaze, was left untouched.
This is the second fire to strike Kearny in an eight-day period. The fires on Brighton and Kearny Aves. have been ruled accidental with the source of the fires stemming from candles within the homes.
“Candles should not be left unattended,” said Dyl. “Even in a glass jar, candles should be left on top of a plate or something non-combustible. They should not be left on top of wood surfaces, not near curtains, and not near combustibles.”
Dyl also referenced an alert on the Kearny Township website which notes: “The majority of candle fires result from human error and negligence.”
The website also gives several tips to prevent candle fires including:
Avoid using lighted candles. Consider using battery operated flameless candles.
If you must use candles, ensure that they are placed in sturdy holders.
Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.
Keep candles away from children and pets.
Never leave burning candles unattended.
Dyl thanked the Fire Departments of Harrison, East Newark, North Arlington and Jersey City for their help in controlling the blaze as well as the Kearny Police Department who helped in the initial response and directing traffic around the busy area.
