Memorable Incidents in Jakeland
7/29/2007 General Alarm Rochelle Ave Fire
This fire at 216 Rochelle Ave went to a General Alarm assignment. The fire was caused by a gas leak which quickly spread to exposure buildings. Four structures in total were involved with fire bringing in M/A from North Lereado, Paradise City, Legofield, Lego Twp, St Lego and Rochelle Heights.
7/17/2008 General Alarm Packard-Webster Chemical Fire
This was the second biggest fire in the history of the Jakeland Fire Dept. This fire brought in fire units from 17 M/A departments. A total of 22 Engines, 15 Ladders, 3 Rescues, 2 Squads and 1 Hazardous Materials team operated at the scene. The fire lasted 3 days. No one was injured or killed at this fire.
2/22/2009 General Alarm Commerce Dr Fire
This fire took place in the Riverview section of Jakeland. Every fire unit from Jakeland fought this blaze. M/A from Lego Twp, St Lego, North Lereado, Rochelle Heights, Buildington and Buena Vista were called in also to assist Jakelands bravest.
9/22/2010 General Alarm Riverview Department Store Fire
This fire took place in the Riverview section of Jakeland. Jakelands bravest were able to rescue 14 people from the blaze, however 4 people were killed. The cause of the fire was faulty electrical work that had been done a month ago on the second floor. Every fire unit from the Jakeland Fire Dept. fought this blaze. Assistance from Lego Twp, Brick Twp, Midlego, St Lego, New Brickington, Buena Vista, Buildington and Rochelle Heights was needed to stand by at empty firehouses across Jakeland.
4/6/2011 Jakeland Clipper Public House Fire
On 4/6/2011, firefighters were dispatched to 85 Coal St on a report of a working fire with people trapped. As firefighters searched the building for the trapped occupants, FF Jason M. Smith became trapped on the third floor. Firefighters unfortunately were unable to rescue FF Smith due to the heavy fire conditions. The fire grew into a General Alarm assignment bringing in every fire unit from the City of Jakeland to the scene. Mutual aid from Rochelle Heights, Lego Twp, St Lego, Buildington, Buena Vista, New Brickington, South Palm, Midlego, North Lereado, Bergen Heights, Legocreek and Paradise City were called in to cover the city and to the scene.
5/7/2012 General Alarm Oritani FCU Building Fire
This fire took place in Downtown Jakeland. Fire consumed the top 3 floors of the 5 story hi-rise. A General Alarm assignment was struck bringing in all Jakeland Fire Dept. units and mutual aid from South Palm, Lego Twp, Rochelle Heights, Portage, Buena Vista, St Lego, Midlego, New Brickington, River County and North Lereado County. The cause of the fire was declared to be an overloaded extension cord in one of the offices on the third floor. No one was injured.
3/23/2013 General Alarm Dyson Chemical Fire
This fire would become the biggest fire in the history of the Jakeland Fire Dept. A valve was accidentally left open in the manufacturing plant. As flammable gases filled the structure, they eventually exploded triggering a blaze that consumed the complex and attached warehouse. Firefighters from 20 fire departments responded to assist Jakelands bravest. A total of 25 engines, 18 ladders and 7 rescues operated at the scene for 3 days. No one was injured or killed at this incident.
12/17/2015 General Alarm Sanzari Medical Plaza Fire
Two people were killed at this General Alarm fire at the Sanzari Medical Plaza building at 360 Oradell Ave. The owner of Turtles Pizzeria, which was on the first floor of the medical building, attempted to rig up a pipe on the gas line by the gas meter. As he used a welders torch to rig up the pipe, an explosion occurred which quickly consumed the building with flames. It took close to seven hours to finally bring the flames under control. Firefighters were needed most of the day on 12/18/2015 to assist investigators and hit hot spots. Firefighters from Lego Twp, St Lego, Rochelle Heights, Riverwoods, Portage, South Palm, Buena Vista and North Lereado County were needed to stand by at empty firehouses during the blaze.
10/31/2016 General Alarm Downtown Blvd Fire
Four people were killed at this General Alarm fire on Downtown Blvd. The cause of the fire was a gas leak that caused an explosion. The building collapsed and flames spread to two attached structures. Firefighters from Rochelle Heights, Liberty County, Lego Twp, North Lereado County, Buena Vista, Portage County, Lego Regional Fire Authority, Riverwoods, Westbrick, Jackson Twp, South Palm and St Lego were needed to assist at the scene and to stand by at empty firehouses.
2/26/2017 General Alarm NJU Fire
This fire took place at the Joshua Chambers Administrative Building on the North Jersey University Campus. An electrical box in the building started the fire and quickly raged out of control. A General Alarm assignment was needed to the scene bringing in mutual aid from Rochelle Heights, North Lereado County, Lego Twp, Portage County, Westbrick, Jackson, St Lego and Riverwoods. Luckily no one was injured at this incident.
6/28/2018 General Alarm Dutchman Lumber Fire
A malfunction at the propane filling station at Dutchman Lumber caused a massive fire to occur. A General Alarm assignment would be needed to the scene. Assistance from Westbrick, Liberty County, Rochelle Heights, St Lego, Lego Twp, Riverwoods, Portage, North Lereado County, Lego Regional, Brick Borough and Buena Vista responded into the scene to help and covered empty firehouses across the city. Thankfully no one was injured at this incident.
2/24/2019 General Alarm Furniture World Fire
A General Alarm assignment would be needed to battle a fire at the "Furniture World Superstore" on Second Ave. An electrical issue caused the fire to rage. The buildings truss roof would collapse which would allow flames to shoot high into the sky. Every Jakeland FD unit operated at the scene. An engine from Rochelle Heights and a ladder from Liberty County also assisted at the scene. Rehab units from Westbrick and Liberty County also operated at the scene. Mutual Aid from Riverwoods, Lego Twp, Buena Vista, Portage, Brick
Borough, Jackson Twp, Portage and Westbrick stood by at empty firehouses
across the city.
11/16/2019 General Alarm Lydia Ave Fire
An overloaded power cord in an apartment caused a 3 story apartment building on Lydia Ave to burn. A General Alarm assignment would be needed to the scene after members of Ladder 3 became trapped on the third floor and radioed a "mayday". Thankfully all the trapped firefighters were able to be rescued. Seven firefighters were injured at this incident. Mutual Aid from Lego Regional, Liberty County, Rochelle Heights, Lego
Twp, Riverwoods, Portage, Jackson, Buena Vista, Westbrick, Brick
Borough, North Lereado and St Lego stood by at empty firehouses across
the city.