BY STEPHEN KALMAN
On February 28, 2012, at 1108 hours, the Hackensack (NJ) Fire Department responded to a reported vehicle fire in the street in front of 504 Hudson Street, in the extreme south end of the city. Engine 1 was dispatched along with the rescue company to assist, our standard response. As Engine 1 approached the scene, members observed a fully involved vehicle. Simultaneously, dispatchers advised the units that the police reported oxygen cylinders were exploding in the vehicle. The on-duty tour commander, Deputy Chief Kenneth Kalman, responded on this report; he ordered an additional engine company to respond.
Engine 1 positioned about 150 feet from the burning car, which was directly in front of an occupied commercial building, and members stretched a 1¾-inch hoseline. At this time, an additional explosion occurred, completely blowing the roof off the vehicle and sending it crashing about 15 feet away from Engine 1. Water was started, and members operated from a distance in an attempt to apply water to the burning vehicle. Some fire was knocked down.
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