Photos and write-up by Ron Jeffers
Five Hoboken (NJ) firefighters were injured and more than 200schoolchildren were safely evacuated when a fire consumed the upper floors and roof area of the Hoboken CharterSchoolon September 6th, 2012.
Many of the students thought it was a beginning of theschoolyear fire drill until they smelled smoke. The smoky fire was located at 713 Washington Street, and the nearby All Saints Episcopal Day School, at 703, evacuated their 100 children.
The fire traveled up walls and along ceilings possessing old fashion tin ceilings and making it labor-intensive for firefighters opening up the structure. Despite temperatures in the 70s, the humidity was high, taking a toll on firefighters. The city EMS unit set up a rehab station with water mister fans.
Mutual aid fire companies from the North Hudson Regional Fire Department and Jersey City assisted at the scene. Parents picked up their children at the city’s Multi Service Center at Grand & Second Streets.
