MAPLEWOOD, NJ — On Friday, Aug. 18, at approximately 10 p.m., the Maplewood Fire Department responded to 1753 Springfield Ave. after Maplewood police observed smoke and fire resulting from a motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, Maplewood firefighters observed significant damage on the side of the building with visible fire around the electrical service and a smoke condition inside the building on all floors. The fire was extinguished quickly, but the smoke took some time to clear from the building.
The vehicle struck a car parked next to the Nuestra Tierra restaurant on Springfield Avenue, as well as an electrical generator, before crashing into a one-story garage located to the rear of the building and damaging a car inside the garage. The garage sustained significant damaging, resulting in a partial collapse of the wall. The Newark Collapse Unit was summoned to the scene to shore up the building to prevent further collapse.
Mutual aid fire departments from Millburn, South Orange, Irvington, Orange, Union and East Orange responded to the scene to assist, while Montclair, Bloomfield and Roseland covered the town during the incident. South Orange Rescue Squad was on scene to provide rehabilitation for emergency personnel.
All occupants were able to evacuate the building on their own. A total of five families were displaced along with the restaurant on the first floor. The building was deemed uninhabitable due to the power being cut to the building. The Red Cross was notified to respond and assist with temporary shelter. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported at the scene.
Vehicle vs. building with fire at 1753 Springfield Ave. added by Editor on
View all posts by Editor →