photos courtesy of City of Hackensack Fire Department , Damien Danis and Deputy 3
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Bogota NJ, A devastating four-alarm fire tore through West View Towers in Bogota, NJ, on Sunday, forcing 60 residents from their homes and causing the roof to collapse.
Fire Erupts, Roof Collapses
The Bogota Fire Department received reports of smoke coming from Apartment 9 at 15 Palisade Ave shortly after 2 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke in the building’s cockloft—the space between the roof and the top-floor ceiling.
As flames intensified, officials escalated the response to a four-alarm fire. After nearly an hour of battling the blaze, crews shifted to defensive operations due to dangerous fire conditions and concerns over a potential roof collapse—which occurred shortly afterward. Surrounding towns offered mutual aid.
Firefighters spent about four hours bringing the fire under control, with full extinguishment taking nearly five hours. Later that evening, at 9:15 p.m., the fire rekindled, requiring another 90 minutes to fully put it out.
Evacuations & Emergency Response
While no fatalities were reported, one resident was hospitalized for smoke inhalation at Hackensack University Medical Center.
The fire left 60 residents displaced from the four-story, 25-unit apartment building. The American Red Cross provided immediate assistance, while Mayor Daniele Fede and local officials coordinated temporary housing:
- Bogota Senior Center initially sheltered residents.
- Those without alternative housing were relocated to the Hampton Inn on Route 46 in Ridgefield Park.
“We’re hoping some residents will be able to retrieve belongings today,” Mayor Fede stated. “But some apartments are completely devastated.”
How to Help Bogota Fire Victims
In response, the Bogota community has launched a donation drive for displaced families. Needed items include:
✅ Clothing
✅ Diapers & wipes
✅ Gift cards
✅ Dry cat & dog food
Donation Drop-Off Locations:
📍 236 Walnut Ave, Bogota
📍 Bogota Senior Center
Investigation Ongoing
As of Monday morning, the cause of the fire remained under investigation by the Bogota Fire Prevention Bureau.
💬 Support the victims & share this post to help spread the word.
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com
Hope the Red Cross is going to help these people out
yes i believe they were at the scene