Cause Of Fire That Killed 2, Displaced 13 Under Investigation

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — Two people were killed and two others were injured following a three-alarm heavy fire at two-story multi-family apartment building in North Plainfield Sunday afternoon, North Plainfield Fire Chief William F. Eaton said.

North Plainfield Police Chief William Parenti told Patch an elderly couple, most likely in their 70s, were killed inside their second-floor apartment where it is believed the fire started.

A third resident, who is 92 years old, was found collapsed in the second floor hallway by Officer Jordan Rogers and carried down to safety. The resident was treated at scene.

Due to the excessive heat on Sunday, there was one injury to a firefighter and at least six firefighters were evaluated by EMS personnel on scene, Eaton said.

The fire broke out around 11:45 a.m. at the Regency Village at 401 Route 22 West in North Plainfield. It quickly went into the open/shared attic space of the other units and spread causing the roof to collapse on the building, Eaton said.

Of the eight units, all were occupied at the time of the fire and about 13 residents were evacuated and displaced as the entire building was ruled "untenable," Eaton said.

The building has since been boarded up.

Due to the two fatalities, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office is leading the fire investigation for cause and origin.

Emergency units responded from across Somerset county to help including:

• Plainfield Fire Division - Truck & Rescue Co.
• Watchung FD 60 – Engine Co.
• Green Brook FD 33 – Quint
• Finderne FD 30 - Rescue (air Bottle filling and RIC personnel)
• Warren Twp 61 – Engine Co.
• Bound Brook FD 23 – Truck 23
• Martinsville FD 43 – Engine Co.
• EMS Resources – JFK 602, Somerville & Hillsborough Rehab & 1 BLS, Watchung EMS 81
• Fire Coordinators and EMS Coordinators
• North Plainfield PD
• Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office
• Red Cross

The SCPO should be making a determination on whether there was any criminal activity involved in the start of the fire Monday.

(Photo and video by Alexis Tarrazi)

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