Belleville Mayor: "This is what hell looks like the morning after…"
Mayor says fire is contained but crews remain on scene as winds pose ongoing concern.
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A massive 12‑alarm fire that spread across multiple commercial buildings in Belleville is now contained, though crews remain on scene as conditions continue to pose challenges, officials said.
Mayor Michael Melham said the fire reached three separate locations and required an extensive, multi‑agency response, including mutual aid from across the region.
"This is what hell looks like the morning after…" Melham said in an update. “The fire is contained and no longer spreading, but several large commercial buildings remain actively involved,” he said. “As winds begin to pick up again, crews remain on scene and vigilant.”
RELATED: State of emergency declared, schools shut down after warehouse fire engulfs Belleville
Officials said there were no civilian injuries or fatalities, which the mayor called “nothing short of a miracle.” One firefighter sustained a minor elbow injury and was taken to Clara Maass Medical Center. Several others were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and exhaustion.
Emergency response escalated throughout the incident, with a tanker task force from Morris County and an EMS strike team deployed to assist with firefighting operations and rehabilitation efforts for crews. Multiple mutual aid companies have since been released, though the Belleville Fire Department continues to coordinate extended operations. Master streams remained in use on the affected commercial buildings, while Essex County Office of Emergency Management crews assisted with refueling apparatus.
Utility crews from PSE&G have begun restoring power to nearby streets, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation continues to support road closures in the area. Belleville Public Schools are closed Monday as a result of the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
