https://youtu.be/-837BVBnhhI
Drone camera images picked up heavy smoke conditions from as far away as Newark's Branch Brook Park while mutual assistance fire departments from as far as Clifton raced to a raging 4-alarm fire that erupted inside a multi-family three story building located directly behind The Home Depot Center on Saturday afternoon in Bloomfield.
Heavy fire broke out at 44 Charles Street at around 6:10 p.m sending dozens of fire crews to the scene where they arrived to find heavy fire engulfing the entire three-story house.
Crews using some of The Home Depot's property space, began to pour large amounts of water in an operation known as "surround and drown" as fire ripped through the structure that officials said began in the rear facing the hardware store.
A search of the structure had no one trapped inside or injured.
Bloomfield's Mayor Michael J. Venezia and several city officials made it to the fire scene a short time later where they began to offer immediate assistance to more that a dozen displaced residents who they said "lost just about everything".
Mayor Venezia and city officials setup temporary shelters at the Bloomfield Civic Center where the city offered food, water, and shelter for the displaced residents.
We will update this information for where you can send donations of clothing, food, and/or money as soon as we make contact with Bloomfield City officials.
UPDATE 10:07 a.m. From Mayor Venezia: Venezia: "I want to thank everyone in the community who has been willing to help the families of last night's fire, we are truly a great community.
Many of you have asked where you can donate and we've arranged for our Fire HQ to accept donations. Also, tomorrow and this week we will have boxes in the Mayor's office and Civic Center to donate items for the families. Again, please bring donations to Fire HQ on the corner of Franklin and Montgomery.
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We are asking our platform members to open your hearts to these residents who have been spared their lives but need a jump start to get going again.
Much appreciated NJ.