Explosions rocked an Edison neighborhood on Jan. 29 as an intense blaze completely destroyed a department of public works (DPW) garage, sending thick black smoke and flames into the night sky that could be seen for miles.
The Edison Fire Department responded just before 10:00 p.m. to the municipal DPW yard on New Durham Road for the reported structure fire.
When firefighters arrived, heavy fire was showing from throughout a large one-story storage garage with flames shooting through the roof. The sounds of compressed gas cylinders exploding and sending balls of fire into the sky forced firefighters to set up operations from a safe distance. Supply lines were established as a defensive operation was set up utilizing two elevated master streams and several 2 1/2-inch handlines. Water continued to flow on what was left of the building for several hours until the bulk of the flames were darkened.
Approximately 75 firefighters from Edison and Metuchen battled the blaze and were able to bring it under control around 1:00 a.m., but a gas-fed fire continued to burn through the night until PSE&G was able to secure the gas line in the morning.
There was nothing left of the building except for a couple of cinder block walls and a pile of rubble. The garage contained vehicles such as salt spreaders, street sweepers, repaving vehicles, and Edison Fire Department’s Engine 6 that was awaiting repairs.
There was no employees at the yard when the fire started and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported at the scene.
Two homes on a nearby street sustained minor damage after the vinyl siding melted from the intense heat, but the residents were able to stay at their home.
This is the fourth fire battled by Edison firefighters at this property since 2012. The previous fires consisted of sanitation trucks on two separate occasions and a salt storage garage, which were all deemed accidental. The approximate loss of the latest fire is being estimated around $4 million, according to officials.
Edison and Middlesex County fire officials are investigating the cause and origin of the fire.
