PHOTO BILL TOMPKINS

The Belleville (N.J.) Fire Department, with mutual aid from surrounding departments, responded to a fire at a commercial building on Feb. 19. At about 0900 HRS, units were dispatched to 115 Washington Ave. in Belleville’s main business district. First-arriving units found a basement fire in a three-story frame building with a retail store on the first floor and apartments above. Additional units were requested as flames extended up the walls with heavy smoke showing from all floors. All firefighters were soon withdrawn from the structure, and an exterior attack was commenced. Ladder pipes from the Belleville and North Arlington ladder companies went into operation, as did handlines from all four sides of the building and two deck guns in the front. After a two-hour battle, firefighters gained the upper hand and the fire was placed under control.