Photo By Bill Tompkins

East Orange, N.J., firefighters battled a suspicious three-alarm fire that consumed a row of businesses in the city’s main shopping area on April 26. Shortly before midnight, units were dispatched to 394 Central Ave. for a report of a structure fire. First-due units found smoke coming from three (out of seven) retail occupancies in a one-story taxpayer. A second alarm was transmitted as companies forced entry.

Heavy fire was found in the rear of the structure with extension to the cockloft and breaking through the roof. A third alarm was soon transmitted, bringing mutual aid units to the scene. Ceiling collapses in two of the stores prompted firefighters to be withdrawn from the structure; a defensive attack was then put into operation. After a 2-hour battle, the main body of the fire had been knocked down, and mutual aid units were released. Companies continued to hit hot spots and overhaul for hours. No injuries were reported, but the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office was called in to investigate.