February 8th, 2024
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
At 5:30 a.m. on January 5th, first responders received a call from a pedestrian who reported that a warehouse in Elizabeth, New Jersey was on fire. Over 100 firefighters responded to the four-alarm blaze at an industrial park, previously the Singer sewing machine factory, now used as a warehouse. The large fire burned for over 15 hours, and the fire department issued a fire watch for several days afterward as a precaution.
Eventually, the fire stopped spreading due to a provided firewall and firefighter efforts. An exterior firefighting attack was staged as there was no way firefighters could enter the building safely. Rescuers also fought the fire from fire boats. The fast-spreading fire affected five buildings.
The fire remains under investigation. No one was in the building at the time of the fire. One firefighter sustained an injury through a slip-and-fall accident while responding to the blaze. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will monitor the area's air quality for toxins. Unfortunately, four buildings are a total loss, but the Singer historic building can be salvaged.
Risk Logic, Inc. is highly experienced in helping businesses determine their protection needs and recommending how to keep facilities safe from fires like this one. RLI engineers will conduct a property loss prevention survey and offer cost-effective recommendations and solutions. Please contact RLI with any questions regarding your business’s fire protection.
