Three Alarm Fire Blazes Through Park Avenue Homes

A three-alarm fire spread quickly through three apartment buildings on Park Avenue—house numbers 128, 126 and 124—near the intersection with 1st Street shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday, forcing residents to flee into the street.

As of 6:30 p.m., a firefighter told Patch that most of the fire had been extinguished but smoke continued to pour from 128 Park Ave., as well as the adjacent building. Although the cause of the fire was still undetermined, firefighters seemed to be paying particular attention to an area above the front entrance of 128 Park, where they believe the fire started.

The fire moved vertically through 128 Park Ave., before moving horizontally to the building next door, said Hoboken Fire Department Batallion Chief John O'Brien, who responded to the call at 4:45 p.m.

No injuries were reported, according to Hoboken Public Safety Director Angel Alicea, who was at the scene. Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer was also present and spoke to some residents.

Alicea said the Red Cross had been contacted to help provide housing for some of the residents of the building, which appeared to suffer heavy smoke and water damage.

Alicea said city officials were planning on opening the Multi-Service Center at Grand Street and 2d Street to give residents a place to stay until they could find altenate housing.

Alex Karp, 26, who lives on the second floor of the building with three roommates, said he was in the shower when he heard noises and noticed people running out the building. He said he came downstairs wearing only a towel and saw the flames over the front entrance, forced to leave without any of his possesions.

"Everything is inside," Karp said. "Cell phone, keys, wallet, everything."

Karp, who has lived in the building for seven months, said besides himself and his roommates, three other residents live on the first floor of 128 Park Avenue.

A total of five families live in 124 and 126 Park Avenue, said 48-year-old Teresa Loh, who has been living at 118 Park Ave. for 40 years. Loh opened up her home to residents and firefighters who needed to escape from the cold temperatures. 

According to fire officials, the flames appeared to have started in 128 Park Avenue and spread quickly through the wooden structure over to 126 Park. According to Battalion Chief O'Brien, 124 Park Avenue also suffered some operational damage.

O'Brien said 24 Hoboken firefighters responded to the call, plus 12 more overtime personnel. Firefighters from Jersey City and North Hudson were also on the scene, helping out the Hoboken Fire Department.