8 Families Currently Homeless After Fatal Secaucus Fire

SECAUCUS, NJ — Here is more information about the fatal fire that killed a 72-year-old man this past Sunday night in Secaucus:

The fire started in the kitchen of a second-floor apartment at 220 Meadow Lane, and spread to a third-floor unit above, where the man lived. Secaucus volunteer firefighters pulled him from his apartment, where he was found with "serious injuries." He died a few hours later at the town hospital.

However, it was not just those two units that suffered severe fire damage: Nearly all the surrounding units in that apartment block have been deemed uninhabitable.

A total of 12 families were displaced by the fire, and the town of Secaucus is putting eight of those families up at a local hotel for this week, said Mayor Mike Gonnelli on Wednesday. All eight families are staying free of cost at the Embassy Suites hotel, owned Alex Patel, who is the 25-year-old son of Secaucus business owner Raj Patel. The older Patel said the town of Secaucus offered them money to pay for the families, but his son declined to accept it.

The three other families were placed in open apartments within that same complex.

However, the town of Secaucus needs more money to help those eight families find more permanent housing. That is why the town will hold a fundraiser this Saturday at the VFW on Paterson Plank Road. Stop by from 10 - 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 and please write checks made out to "Secaucus Town Emergency Fund." Also, Gonnelli said the town is looking for apartments to house the families, so if anyone has an open apartment, please let him know.

The fire broke out at 11:53 p.m. Sunday in the 100-unit apartment complex at 220 Meadow Lane. The fire is thought to have started in a woman's kitchen, and is not thought to be suspicious at this time. However, police and the Hudson County Prosecutor continue to investigate.

Two other residents that night were treated for smoke inhalation, but did not require hospitalization.

John Meisenburg, 72, was found by Secaucus volunteer firefighters with serious injuries inside his third-floor apartment. He was transported to Hudson Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:52 a.m. on Monday, January 16.

Original report: Man, 72, Killed In Secaucus Fire Sunday (Jan. 16)