Emergency Crews Battle Massive Blaze in Hawthorne; 3 Firefighters Injured as Flames Spread
photos courtesy of the Neighbors and the Hawthorne Fire Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hawthorne NJ, A quiet afternoon in Hawthorne turned into a chaotic scene today as a fast-moving structure fire tore through a residence on Westervelt Avenue, sending thick black smoke billowing across the borough and requiring a massive multi-agency response.
Quick Response to a Rapidly Spreading Fire
At approximately 4:50 p.m., the Hawthorne Fire Department was dispatched to the intersection of North 12th Street and Westervelt Avenue. The intensity of the blaze was evident before crews even arrived, with a towering column of smoke visible from several blocks away.
Upon arrival, Fire Chief Speranza immediately declared a “working fire.” The rear of the primary residence was already fully engulfed, and the inferno was rapidly spreading to nearby structures.
Second Alarm Triggered: The Fight to Protect the Neighborhood
Recognizing the danger to the surrounding neighborhood, a second alarm was transmitted, bringing in mutual aid from neighboring towns. The fire’s fuel load was significant, involving:
-
The primary residence (rear fully involved)
-
A detached garage
-
A storage shed
-
A large amount of backyard debris
Firefighters faced a two-front battle: extinguishing the heavy volume of fire in the main structures while simultaneously hosing down adjacent homes to prevent “radiant heat” from igniting neighboring houses.
Injuries Reported and Mutual Aid Support
While crews were able to bring the fire under control after nearly four hours on the scene, the intensity of the operation took a toll. Hawthorne EMS treated three firefighters for injuries sustained during the battle. The current condition of the firefighters has not been released.
The Hawthorne Fire Department extended its gratitude to the Ladies Auxiliary for providing essential refreshments and the numerous mutual aid companies that assisted both at the scene and by providing borough coverage during the emergency.
Investigation Underway
As of this evening, the cause of the Westervelt Avenue fire remains under investigation. Fire officials remained on-site late into the night performing overhaul and dousing hotspots to ensure no reignition occurred.
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com
#HawthorneNJ #FireNews #BreakingNews #BergenCounty #Firefighters #PublicSafety #HawthorneFireDept #MutualAid
