Fire at 5 Roosevelt, Some Trapped But Not in Danger (Update2)

(Adds comments from Montclair Fire Department Chief Kevin Allen and Montclair Red Cross)

A fire broke out in a fourth floor apartment on 5 Roosevelt Ave, off South Fullerton Ave in Montclair, this morning around 9am, and had been extinguished by 11am, Kevin Allen, MFP chief told Baristanet, adding it was a 3-alarm fire, which required assistance from other fire departments, including those of West Orange and Verona. No one was injured in the blaze, and occupants of other apartments had been evacuated, but a lot of smoke remained on the west wing of the 4th floor, Allen said.

A police officer at the back of the building said that several people remained in an apartment (see photo at left) unrelated to the one in which the fire broke out, including 2 firemen, 3 police officers, and at least one other civilian, who was disabled. They were all safe, he said, but would need to be evacuated from the apartment with a tower ladder.

MFD's chief Allen said this afternoon, "One apartment had a significant amount of damage, there was smoke damage throughout the 4th floor, and water damage on the 3rd floor from extinguishing the fire. The cause is undetermined and being investigated (by Essex County Arson Squad), but there is no cause for suspicion."

Allen said the fire started in the bedroom of the affected apartment, and that, while no residents were harmed, "one firefighter from MFD fell down a flight stairs and hurt his leg, was treated and released from Mountainside Hospital."

He had some concerns about the building's alarm system following the fire, but said these were being addressed quickly to ensure the residents' safety.

Ahmet Baytas, who lives in apartment 5R, exactly one floor above the affected apartment, said he didn't smell anything, and only evacuated the building after 9am when he heard the fire alarm. In the hallway, "I smelt the smoke; it was very bad, like the smell of plastic burning."

Another resident, Jason Anderman, who lives on the second floor, was standing and waiting in the rain after being evacuated with three other residents.

"We walked outside at about 9.30, and there was huge fire blowing out of the apartment (on the 4th floor), and I heard a window explode," Anderman said.

He was alerted to evacuate by the assistant supervisor of the building, who had smelt smoke before raising the alarm.

Melanie Hazim of Montclair Red Cross said that of the 107 units in the apartment building, 53 are habitable and residents have been permitted to return. Fifty four of the units have been affected by the fire and the efforts to contain it, and one unit was destroyed. Five of the apartments were severely damaged.

Affected residents who need assistance should contact the Red Cross at 973.746.1800.