Volunteers, Donations Needed To Help Victims Of Bound Brook Fire

BOUND BROOK, NJ — After a massive seven-alarm fire ripped through Bound Brook on Sunday many residents are still homeless. Volunteers and donations are being sought to help.

The Bound Brook Office of Emergency Management and CERT Program is asking for volunteers. Those interested should visit the Borough Clerks window at Borough Hall and ask for an "OEM application" to fill out and leave with the Clerks Office. An OEM representative will then contact the applicant.

Additionally the Bound Brook Salvation Army is also working to provide food and clothing to the families displaced by the fire. They are looking for donations of clothing, blankets, personal care items and cleaning products. These things can be dropped off at the Salvation Army office at 108 Hamilton St. in Bound Brook.

Downtown Bound Brook is also looking for volunteers to help the community rebuild. Those interested can visit the volunteer page at downtownboundbrook.com or contact Knowles-Brindle at manager@downtownboundbrook.com.

Just as Bound Brook's downtown area was getting back onto its feet following Hurricane Floyd in 1999, a fire Sunday ripped through a new-construction apartment building complex called Meridia 2 near the train station, at 7:53 p.m. (See Related: Roads, Schools Impacted After 7-Alarm Fire Rages In Bound Brook)

It then spread to another apartment building across the street called the WeMa for West Main Street and two other adjacent buildings, including a rooming house that had six residents and another apartment building with six units, Bound Brook Mayor Bob Fazen said.

• See Related: 'We Will Rebuild,' Bound Brook Mayor Says After Massive Fire

Several homes nearby were also evacuated as a precaution due to structural concerns from buildings affected by the fire.

Police are telling residents that if they see a sign on their home, they should not enter it. Residents should call 908-536-8800 or 211 for assistance.

Officials from all governmental levels are working to figure out what caused the devastating fire. Those agencies include the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Fire Investigation Unit, and fire officials from Bound Brook, Somerset County, New Jersey and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A cause of the fire has still not been determined. Investigators are hoping to be able to get into the buildings on Tuesday.

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