Somerville Fire Update: Main Street Reopens, Community Rallies Together

SOMERVILLE, NJ — The community is rallying together as Somerville begins to rebuild after a four-alarm fire ripped through Downtown Somerville displacing around 16 people on Tuesday.

"At the end of this, Somerville is a very special place. And, and this is when Somerville is at her best, you know, the amount of responders we had. And now the amount of folks reaching out to help is just incredible," said Somerville Mayor Brian Gallagher to Patch.

Main Street Update

As of 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Main Street reopened. It had been closed since the fire broke out around 2 p.m. on Tuesday at a three-story building that housed restaurants King Tut and Mike's Courtside Kitchen and apartments above on the corner of W Main Street and South Bridge Street.

"We had to make sure that the buildings weren't in danger, immediate danger of collapse," said Gallagher. "And once that was confirmed, we cordoned off the area or barricaded off the area and reopened Main Street."

Gallagher reiterated that "Main Street is open for business."

A small area will be barricaded off including in front of the buildings that housed King Tut and Mike's Courtside.

Additionally, two adjacent buildings which housed Yoga Odyssey and Sushi Yokohama were also impacted. Those businesses did suffer from smoke and water damage.

They have to go through the standard board of health review and approval, and then they can reopen, said Gallager.

"But otherwise, Main Street is open operating. And Friday night Cruise Night is a go," said Gallagher.

Cruise Nights are held every Friday in the summer from 6 to 9 p.m. The Summer Concert on Friday will also still occur.

Somerville's Spring Street Fair will be rescheduled for July 14, said Downtown Somerville Alliance Assistant Manager Stacy Stanley.

Displaced Residents

A total of 8 families or around 16 residents were displaced on Tuesday due to the fire. Somerville relocated them temporarily into a shelter, and then subsequently placed them into a hotel.

"They've been in the hotel since that evening," said Gallagher.

The Somerville Civic League Organization has been working daily to help the residents with their clothing and food needs along with helping to get them set up with Social Services.

The Civic League is collecting suitcases and the following clothes items:

• Women’s shoes: size 7, 8, 8 1/2
• Men's shoes: size 8 1/2, 10, 10 1/2, 11
• Men's sneakers: size 10
• Women’s clothes:
• Socks 6-12
• Underwear: size 10
• Sweatshirts: L, XL, 2X
• Men's clothes:
• Sweatshirts: L, XL, 2X
• Bottoms: Pants/jeans32, 32/32, 33/30, 36, 40x30
• Sweatpants: L
• Bathing suit: M
• Socks: M, 13
• Underwear: 32, 34, L, XL
• Hats (not baseball)
• Toiletries: Soap, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, poligrip denture hold, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, Vaseline, hair grease, K&B deodorant, dove soap …)

The civic league is also collecting gift cards, sponsor a hotel night for displaced families, monetary donations through their website somervillecivicleague.org to help support those in need.

All donations can be dropped off at Cuoco Funeral Home, 10 West End Ave., Somerville(Back porch up the ramp), cuocofuneralandcremation.com.

Community Strong Tent

Additionally, the Somerset Regional Fermar's Market in partnership with the Somrville Civic League is hosting a special "Community Strong Tent" this week.

"With many displaced citizens who lost everything, injured, and mental struggles due to the events this week, the market will be collecting items for affected individuals in the community this Sunday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our community is only as strong as the weakest root," said the Somerville Civic League Organization.

Cooked Meals For Families, First Responders

Turf Surf and Earth, located about a block from the fire, is calling on the community for monetary donations to cover gift cards and cooked meals for families, and police and firefighters.

"Our hearts go out to all the displaced families and our neighboring small business friends. We can’t even imagine the devastation," wrote the fast-casual restaurant. "We are here to help the families and amazing first responders."

The restaurant set up a Venmo system, @turf-surf-and-earth for locals to donate and they will cook food in the donor's name and send it over to the police and fire departments this and next week. They are also donating gift cards to the displaced families.

Somerville Police also made an announcement on Wednesday following the fire:

We are deeply saddened by the loss of our local businesses and all families that have been displaced after yesterday's fire. During this challenging time, we want to extend our heartfelt recognition and gratitude:

To the Somerville Fire Department, Somerville Rescue Squad and all other towns that assisted - your bravery and dedication are deeply appreciated.

To our amazing community businesses and the Somerville Civic League - thank you for your incredible support in bringing food and water to our police officers and firefighters. Your generosity and solidarity exemplify the strength and compassion of our community.

Together, we stand strong. Thank you for being there for us.

Businesses

Gallagher noted that Somerville is trying to determine if there are any federal grants or loans or small business programs that can help the impacted businesses.

"We're just coming out of the impact phase, and now we're going into the recovery phase," sai Gallagher. "We're still assessing the damage to the businesses, the property owners."

State Response

Governor Phil Murphy reached out the night of the fire to Gallagher personally and asked if there was anything he could do.

Murphy put Somerville in contact with Colonel Patrick Callahan of the State Police to offer additional police presence in blocking off Main Street since it is a state highway.

The Fire

Around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, a four-alarm fire broke out at a three-story building that housed restaurants King Tut and Mike's Courtside Kitchen and apartments above on the corner of W Main Street and South Bridge Street in Downtown Somerville. Read More: 4-Alarm Fire Burns At 3-Story Somerville Building

The restaurant along with neighboring Mike's Courtside Kitchen had to be evacuated along with residents living above the businesses.

One Somerville Police Officer was treated and released from a local hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation. Four firefighters also had minor injuries. Two were treated at the scene and cleared while the other two were treated at the hospital and later released, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald. Read More: 18 Residents Displaced, 4 Firefighters & 1 Cop Injured In Somerville Fire

A total of around 16 residents, or eight families, are displaced due to the fire, said Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Chief of County Detectives Frank Roman Jr.

Red Cross of New Jersey reported their disaster volunteers responded to the fire and helped eight families with Red Cross emergency assistance for temporary lodging, food, clothing, and other immediate needs.

Firefighters from all over Somerset County and even some from Union County came to help Somerville Fire Department extinguish the blaze including Finderne, Bound Brook, Hillsborough Station 37, Hillsborough Station 36, Martinsville, Franklin Fire District 27, Franklin Fire District 56, Country Hills Fire Department, Green Knoll, Manville, Warren Township, Raritan Borough, Lyons VA, North Branch, and Liberty Corner.

Emergency medical personnel from Somerville, Martinsville, and Green Knoll also came to render aid, along with officers from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office who helped Somerville Police with traffic control of the affected area.

Personnel from the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, including the Somerset County Fire Coordinator, responded to help with a unified command consisting of fire and police personnel.

The fire investigation remains ongoing, and the origin and cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Two residential/commercial structures were heavily damaged with residents being displaced.

"Thanks to the quick response from first responders, all the occupants of the buildings were safely evacuated and uninjured," said McDonald.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Somerville Police Department at 908-725-0331 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.