2026 Incidents

At 08:28 Orange Fire Dispatch reported a signal 11 now a second alarm at 212 Park Place, they then upgraded to a 3rd alarm immediately after. South Essex, West Orange, Bloomfield, Irvington engines were requested as well as Montclair and East Orange trucks. Just a few minutes later it was upgraded to a fourth alarm with engine companies from Livingston, Belleville, North Caldwell, and Cedar Grove with truck companies from Millburn and Nutley as well as MAC 1. North Caldwell was unable to provide an Engine so a Verona Engine took its place and was directed to house coverage. At 08:49 Newark provided Engine 7, Engine 11 and Battalion 2 for house coverage later adding Ladder 8, they were then sent direct to scene with Verona Engine, and Roseland Truck being sent for house coverage. At 09:04 a fifth alarm was transmitted to the county with house coverage being sent to the scene. At ~09:20 a PAR was conducted and all units were accounted for, at 09:25 a urgent message was transmitted for a power line down on the Alpha side of the structure. At 09:26 Fairfield and all other Essex county house coverage was cancelled and Jersey City was enroute, Newark was put on alert incase of any other needs until they arrive. Around that time a NJ Transit bus was dispatched to assist with the displacements and rehab. At 09:34 an urgent message was relayed over the county from Millburn Tower Ladder 5-2 about bricks falling on the Charlie side of the building. At 09:49 another PAR check was conducted and was conducted and all units were accounted for. At 09:54 another urgent message over the county for down live powerlines on the alpha side of the main fire building by MAC 1. At 10:01 a message was broadcasted for the chimney being unstable on the main fire building. At 10:02 Jersey City units arrived for house coverage. At 10:15 the Newark USAR unit was requested to the scene. At 10:20 the Livingston, Verona Engine and Roseland Truck were dismissed. At 10:25 the Millburn shoring unit was requested but was advised it was out of service, the Elizabeth shoring unit was requested in its place. At 10:29 the Bloomfield, Belleville Engines and Nutley Ladder were released. At 10:33 two Newark Engines and their Truck were released, holding the battalion waiting for their USAR. At 10:34 Essex County OEM was responding to the scene. At 10:39 the Cedar Grove Engine and Millburn Tower Ladder were released. At 11:20 the Elizabeth shoring unit was placed on scene. At 11:22 MAC 1 reported the only mutual aid companies remaining were Bloomfield Rescue, Bell and Sirens, Irvington Engine, South Essex Engine, West Orange Engine, Montclair and East Orange Trucks, Newark & Elizabeth Shoring Units, MAC 10 would remain on scene as the mutual aid coordinator. At 11:33 Irvington and West Orange were released. At 11:42 the Essex County Prosecutors office was marked on scene. At 11:53 East Orange was released. At 11:58 Bloomfield Rescue was released. At 12:08 Montclair Truck was released. South Essex Engine was released at 12:34. At 12:41 the Medical Examiner was placed on scene. At 12:44 South Essex Rescue was released. Additional units were released from the scene. Jersey City was released from house coverage at 14:53. Reports from multiple news outlets say around 20 people displaced with two fatalities, a young girl and an elderly woman, my heart goes out to their families and the community. First Alarm Units: Orange: Squad 1, Engine 3, Engine 4, Ladder 1 and Tour Commander (IC) University Hospital: EMS Supervisor & Ambulance Notes: Possible there were other units but was unable to confirm. Second & Third Alarm Units: East Orange: Ladder 62 West Orange: Engine 2 South Essex: Engine 83 Irvington: Engine 44 Bloomfield: Engine 3 Montclair: Truck 1 Newark: HQ17 (Bell and Sirens) Fourth Alarm Units: Livingston: Engine 6 Belleville: Engine 2 Millburn: Tower Ladder 5-2 Cedar Grove: Engine 72 Nutley: Truck Newark: Engine 7, Engine 11, Ladder 8, Battalion 2 Fourth Alarm Special Request: Bloomfield: Rescue 1 Fifth Alarm: Roseland: Truck 665 Verona: Engine 11 Fifth Alarm Special Request: Newark: USAR & Special Operations Service Vehicle Mutual Aid Coordinators & Chief Officers: MAC 1 MAC 2 MAC 10 Hudson County MAC 1 (might not have been on scene but was helping in the coordination) South Essex Deputy Chief Additional Units: Elizabeth: Special Operations South Essex: Rescue 1 Orange: Fire Official NJ / Essex County EMS Task Force: Medical Ambulance Bus 8 University Hospital: Mass Care Unit, EMS Supervisors and Ambulances Essex County Prosecutors Office: Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Mobile Command Center Medical Examiners Office American Red Cross Essex County Emergency Management NJ Transit Cooling Bus and NJ Transit Supervisor House Coverage: Jersey City: Engine 15, Engine 17, Ladder 9, Battalion 4 Notes: This information was taken from my time on scene, other photos, videos and the county fire mutual aid audio traffic from my scanner.