Morristown fire causes heavy damage to stores, 25 people displaced
MORRISTOWN – Dozens of firefighters and emergency-management officials Saturday morning were still on the scene of a devastating fire that gutted a retail and residential building strip on the corner of Elm and Morris streets.
No injuries were reported, but 12 hours after the fire was called in at 82-84-86-88 Elm Street (at Blachley Place) at 11:14 p.m. Friday, Morristown Fire Chief Robert Flanagan said at the scene that he was waiting for building officials and a structural engineer to evaluate the damage.
"You can see that behind the front facade of the building, the buildings are collapsed, the two in the center there," he said, referring to Miracle Hair Salon and Del's Novelty, a family business that has been there since 1949 (see sidebar story). "He's going to make the determination whether it needs to be razed over the next day, the next three days or the next week."
SEE PHOTOS: http://dailyre.co/1CL6jLF
Flanagan said everyone got out safely, and there were no injuries sustained by his crew, which battled intense cold and winds overnight.
"We actually rehabbed (the firefighters) every hour and a half or so," Flanagan said.
Mayor Timothy Dougherty also was at the scene Saturday morning, saying he arrived there shortly after midnight.
"Thank God everyone got out safely," he said. "Luckily no one was injured and everybody got out. The fire department did an outstanding job in this cold, bitter weather."
SEE VIDEO: Courtesy Kevin Coughlin, MorristownGreen.com http://bit.ly/1zjUfjE
Saturday morning, with temperatures below 20 degrees, ice still covered portions of the building and surrounding structures. Dozens of onlookers navigated slick, icy sidewalks to view the scene and take photographs.
The building strip included the shuttered former Sebastian's Steak House, while the second floor was comprised of residential apartments. Displaced residents initially were taken by the Red Cross to the nearby Morristown train station to stay warm.
Saturday morning, the train station was empty and locked. Police and other town officials were unsure where the residents had been moved.
The Red Cross issued a statement Saturday afternoon saying that four members of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded early that morning to help seven families displaced by the fire.
"Twenty-three people received Red Cross emergency assistance in the form of temporary lodging, food and clothing as needed," said Red Cross spokesperson Erica Viviani, who also was unclear where those people had been lodged.
Dougherty later issued a statement that non-perishable donations can be dropped off at the Morristown Fire Bureau, 161 Speedwell Ave., Morristown. Financial donations also can be made via check or money order made out to the Town of Morristown, and mailed or delivered to the mayor's office Town Hall, 200 South St.
Morristown Detective Lt. Stuart Greer said updates would be issued when available.
Overnight response
Greer issued a statement at 3:25 a.m. that said freezing temperatures and strong winds were hampering firefighting efforts. At 4:15 a.m., firefighters were dousing the rooftops but heavy smoke was still visible while the streets and sidewalks were encrusted with ice from the water sprays.
Frank Manniello, disaster services volunteer for the American Red Cross, was on scene at the Morristown train station, which was opened as a warming center for displaced families. Manniello said no residents were injured and the Red Cross is helping about 25 displaced people.
SEE PHOTOS: Aftermath of devastating Morristown Elm Street fire http://dailyre.co/1CLJozC
Some live in apartments above businesses at 82-84-86-88 Elm Street, where the fire occurred. Others, including 18-year-old Yin Ho and her family, were displaced because utilities were turned off in their building that houses Malay, a Malaysian restaurant at 147 Morris St.
At 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Ho sat beside her father and sister on benches at the train station while her 9-year-old niece tried to sleep on another bench.
"I spent the night walking around in here and on my phone," Ho said.
Greer said that officers responding to a 911 call at 11:14 p.m. saw smoke at the rear of buildings from 82 to 88 Elm Street.
Staff Writers Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142, pwright@njpressmedia.com; William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.