Thursday, August 16, 2012
Proceeds from an event planned for this evening will be used to assist the Bilson family of Cranford, whose home was destroyed in a fire on June 24.
Members of local emergency service agencies throughout Union County have always had a reputation for looking out for one another when tragedy strikes. So when a fire destroyed the Cranford home of someone on the Union County Hazmat Team, plans to help the family began to evolve almost immediately. In fact, a few responders and bystanders began discussing the need for some type of fundraiser even as crews worked to extinguish the blaze, which ripped through the North Avenue home of the Billson family on June 24, destroying the structure as well as all of their belongings. Bill Billson is a full-time member of the Union County Hazmat Team, FMBA Local 99, NJ State FMBA, and is a volunteer member of the Garwood and Westfield fire departments …
40.67531
-74.26715
281 Chestnut St, Union, NJ
/articles/emergency-workers-will-host-fundraiser-to-assist-one-of-their-own
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Thursday, June 28, 2012
Cranford fire officials are unable to enter the home and investigate the cause of the June 24 blaze due to the instability of the chimney.
Fire officials have not yet determined the cause of the four-alarm fire that caused heavy damage to a home at 217 North Ave. West on June 24. According to Cranford Fire Chief Leonard Dolan, the home was "heavily damaged" when flames tore through the top two floors of the dwelling. "We're unable to go in an investigate because the chimney is not stable," Dolan said. Officials are waiting for the homeowner's insurance company to take action so that the chimney can be stablized, allowing investigators to go inside the house and determine the origin of the fire. Dolan said that the cause of the blaze does not appear to be suspicious. The fire was reported just after 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. The fire quickly spread throughout the upper part of the …
40.65532
-74.31042
217 North Ave W, Cranford, NJ
/articles/cause-of-four-alarm-house-fire-on-north-avenue-still-unclear
/locations/7346478
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Firefighters from Cranford and several nearby towns battled a four-alarm blaze Sunday.
Smoke billowed from the windows and flames shot from a gaping hole in the roof of a home at 217 North Ave. West on June 24. Fire companies from all over Union County responded to the township to provide mutual aid to the Cranford Fire Department as they worked to bring the late afternoon blaze under control. For more news and updates about Cranford, "like" us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CranfordPatch or follow @CranfordPatch on Twitter.
40.65532
-74.31042
217 North Ave W, Cranford, NJ
/articles/video-crews-work-to-extinguish-north-avenue-house-fire
/locations/7311833
A fire destroyed the top two floors of a residence.
Firefighters from the Cranford Fire Department and several nearby municipalities are continuing to battle a blaze that has already destroyed the top two floors of a home at 217 North Ave. West, across the street from Dooley Funeral Home. Smoke billowed from the second floor windows and flames could be seen shooting from the roof of the two-and-a-half-story structure at about 6 p.m. on June 24, as firefighters aimed heavy streams of water at the residence, hoping to bring the fire under control. Across the street, Jeanette Bilson, the owner of the home, sat on a chair next to her family, watching crews from Cranford, Linden, Garwood, Kenilworth, Roselle, Roselle Park and Westfield work to extinguish the blaze. Bilson and her family were not…
40.65532
-74.31042
217 North Ave W, Cranford, NJ
/articles/firefighters-battle-four-alarm-blaze-on-north-avenue-west
/locations/7325401
Thursday, December 22, 2011
For second day, crews try to fight blaze in massive Newark Avenue warehouse.
Firefighters from many Union County towns continue to help the Elizabeth Fire Department battle a seven-alarm blaze that has been burning for more than 21 hours straight in a landmark Newark Avenue warehouse Wednesday afternoon. From 4:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, the fire produced thick black smoke that smelled like melting plastic. At about 6:30, red embers began mingling with the smoke, eventually giving way to streaks of red-orange flames bursting through the smoke pouring from the roof. The fire began at about 4 p.m. Wednesday in the basement of the old Burry Biscuits factory. At 4:47 a.m. Thursday, the blaze was upgraded to seven-alarm status after explosions and heavy smoke conditions were reported. Officials said no injuries have …
Terry Brooks
11:00 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
It was so sad to see a house where I spent many happy hours as a child go up in flames. I can only imagine how Aunt Jan felt sitting there watching it burn, and how felt Willie fighting a fire in his family home. You are all in my thoughts & prayers. Terry more ›