After 240+ apartment destruction by the Avalon of Edgewater fire, NJ lawmaker aims at code. However, the lack of sufficient water pressure and fire-fighting infrastructure played the biggest role in this tragedy
EDGEWATER — As power was restored to those living around a luxury apartment complex destroyed by a fire this week, officials thanked those who have supported the more than 1,000 people displaced and a lawmaker announced a planned measure aimed at the state's building code.
Edgewater Mayor Michael McPartland said Friday that power was restored around where the Edgewater at The Avalon burned down across the Hudson River from New York City.
"I'm just so proud of everyone who was involved here," McPartland said. "In a terrible tragedy, what I see coming out of it is the people of Edgewater coming together as a prideful town that we always have been."
Officials say workers accidentally started the fire, and Fire Chief Thomas Jacobson said the building's lightweight, wooden structure fueled the flames and made fighting the fire difficult. The construction was done appropriately based on building codes, officials said, and no one died or was seriously hurt.
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said he plans to introduce a bill aimed at strengthening building codes. Prieto worked as a construction code official and said the building's materials may have caused the fire to spread. However, even now he cannot realize that it was the lack of water infrastructure that was a main contributing factor to the destruction of 240+ luxury apartments. How can anyone explain to us that code enhancements will prevent another disaster like this, without adequate water pressure in the community?
Unfortunately, the Borough and the County have allowed the building of so many developments in Edgewater without upgrading the infrastructure, be it water, electricity, gas or sewer. The problem is that the water table is very shallow and the subsurface conditions can accomodate only a certain size of water pipe. That size is inadequate to accomodate the fire fighting needs of the developments in Edgewater.
How come the sprinkler system did not contain the fire? How come a small fire that started in the utility repair location, end up engulfing in flames 240 luxury apartment units? It was caused by the lack of water. The videos clearly show that the water sprayed onto the fire it was like urinating in the wind. It was that pathetic. We have known for years now about the lack of water pressure in Edgewater. It is about time that these people wake up and do the right thing, otherwise the next fire will cause fatalities especially if the timing of the fire coincides with when people sleep in the homes.
We know all the players well and the Departments in this area. This is what happens when you have increased fire load thrust into your community and continue to operate with a volunteer Fire Department. It's not the volunteer's fault. But in no way should Edgewater NJ have a volunteer's FD. We have 15,000 residents and some 75,000 that come through town on a daily basis. We have vandals destoying property left and right, especially near the malls and shopping centers. They needed a quick and aggressive interior attack and it is not what we have seen in the videos. The construction played a big part in this fire as Avalon's all over the County have burnt like this. But this was pretty much a job that needed every company that responded to bring big lines and water to get ahead of this fire. And we truly think that they were overwhelmed from the beginning. It's time for NJ to "wake up" and residents should ask for better fire protection across the board and across Bergen County.
"Thank God this devastating fire did not result in any fatalities, but it has shattered the lives of hundreds of people, and reports about how the building's materials and design may have contributed to the spread of the fire are deeply troubling," Prieto said in a statement.
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said it will be up to state officials to decide whether the building codes need to be changed.
"Will it be a good idea to take a look at an experience like this so that maybe we can prevent something as catastrophic? Certainly, and I think that's something we would all feel good to do," Tedesco said.