Officials search for cause of auto shop fire that destroyed several Hillside businesses
The autobody shop is located on the corner of Maple and Conklin avenues in Hillside.
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Members of ATF and the New Jersey State Fire Marshall’s Office have been searching through the rubble of an auto repair shop, where a massive fire broke out in Hillside on Tuesday night.
Investigators have been sifting through the burned remains of at least nine cars as they search for the origin and cause of that fire.
Witnesses say it started at around 7 p.m. along Maple Avenue.
The flames from the auto repair shop spread to a nearby home, which had to be evacuated. Hillside officials say 32 people were displaced.
RELATED: Fire at Hillside autobody shop destroys multiple businesses
The fire also destroyed or severely damaged a number of businesses along Maple Avenue.
Firefighters were still putting down hotspots inside the Maple Mini Market on Wednesday afternoon.
Hillside officials say one person inside the auto repair shop was injured, but there were no fatalities.
“We are lucky as a community that we didn’t have any fatalities. We had a couple of injuries that are being handled, but for the most part, we are all about rebuilding at this stage,” said Hillside Mayor Dahlia Vertreese.
Two cars parked along Maple Avenue were crushed by falling bricks after a portion of the mini market collapsed.
Fire officials say there are no longer any concerns about the air quality from the intense smoke and flames.
