Debris Fire at Demolition Site

The Department was dispatched to a fire at the property of the Old McBride Factory (50 Fifth Ave), this building which is under demolition to make way for condos in the future. On Sunday Jan 20th the Department was dispatched to assist a neighboring township, en route to that call the two firefighters noted a heavy smoke condition in the area of this old factory. Ex Asst Chief Nelson and Lt Marsch noted the smoke in the area and notified Chief Speranza and Police Dispatch. After a quick investigation of the condition the firefighters located a working fire on the property of the factory and responding apparatus where assigned to the incident. The fire was located in a thirty foot pile of demolition debris well inside the demolition area.

Due to dangerous conditions, unsafe wall remains and excessive debris of steel girders, duct work etc, a decision was made to bring a township backhoe to assist in the effort to extinguish.   With conditions in the area of the operation the backhoe becoming unstable, the backhoe was ordered out and a switch to a firefighting foam application was established to insure the safety of the firefighters and completely extinguish the fire.

The fire was extinguished and units returned after a two hour operation and fortunately no injuries reported.