Massive blaze in downtown Dover leaves 80 homeless, totally destroys 7 businesses

DOVER — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Town of Dover Mayor James P. Dodd stated on Monday, October 22, at 3:29 p.m., a caller reported smoke in the basement of Barry’s Luncheonette, a business located in a commercial/residential building at 3 North Warren Street, Dover.

First responding firefighters and police officers observed heavy smoke in the area and safely evacuated all occupants of adjacent structures. Thick smoke and the sound of fire was heard/observed throughout several adjoining buildings that house businesses and residences.

Due to the significance of this fire, the Morris County Fire Mutual Aid Plan was put into effect, wherein the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, through its County Fire Coordinator, oversees the acquirement, deployment and management of the numerous mutual aid resources available through the plan in support of large firefighting operations. The Dover Department of Public Works and Water Department, with the aid of the neighboring towns’ Public Works and Water Departments ensured sufficient water resources were available for suppression operations.

The fire quickly spread upward and outward, eventually venting through the roof of the adjoined buildings at 17 and 19 West Blackwell Street. The fire continued to spread northward to the adjacent buildings at 3, 5, 7 and 9 North Warren Street.

Fire suppression efforts were undertaken externally by ground crews and aerial ladder apparatus from all sides of the structures. Several of the buildings collapsed during fire suppression operations. A police officer suffered a minor injury at the scene; otherwise there were no injuries reported. By 9:00 p.m., the fire was brought under control. Fire crews remained on scene overnight and throughout the day Tuesday due to smoldering debris and to assist in excavation/cleanup operations.

In total, six businesses and ten apartments were completely destroyed; three businesses and six apartments suffered smoke/water/heat damage, as follows:

Completely Destroyed

• • • El Paraisa Restaurant / two overhead apartments – 19 West Blackwell Street
    • La Notaria (notary public) – 17.5 West Blackwell Street
    • La Bamba Grill Mexican Restaurant – 17 West Blackwell Street
    • Four overhead apartments – 9 North Warren Street
    • Taqueria Brenda Lee Restaurant – 7 North Warren Street
    • Jocelyn Beauty Salon – 5 North Warren Street
    • Barry’s Luncheonette / four overhead apartments – 3 North Warren Street

Partially Damaged

• Morris Thrift Store – 11 North Warren Street
• Piñatas Las Flores (party supply store) – 21 West Blackwell Street
• Dover Discount Store & six overhead apartments – 23 West Blackwell Street

Approximately 80 residents have been either temporarily or permanently displaced. The American Red Cross is providing care for the affected families/residents (all donations are being managed through the Red Cross).

The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is being conducted jointly by the Dover Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Fire/Environmental Unit, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, NJ Division of Fire Safety Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The following agencies responded and assisted with operations at the scene:

1. Dover Fire Department
2. Picatinny Arsenal Fire Department
3. Rockaway Boro Fire Department
4. Wharton Fire Department
5. Randolph Fire Department
6. Mine Hill Fire Department
7. Mt. Tabor Volunteer Fire Department District 1
8. Rainbow Lakes Volunteer Fire Department District 2
9. Lake Hiawatha Volunteer Fire Department District 4
10. Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Department District 5
11. Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department District 6
12. Parsippany Rescue and Recovery
13. Chester Boro Fire Department
14. Cedar Knolls Fire Department
15. Washington Township Fire Department
16. Whippany Fire Department
17. Netcong Fire Department
18. Morris Township Fire Department
19. Morris Plains Fire Department
20. Wayne Township Fire Department
21. Flanders Fire Department
22. Jefferson Twp. Fire Department
23. Brookside Fire Department
24. Denville Fire Department
25. Rockaway Township Fire Department
26. Schooley’s Mountain Fire Department
27. Warren County Fire Task Force
28. Franklin Township Fire Department
29. Blairstown Fire Department
30. Allamuchy Fire Department
31. Byram Fire Department
32. Andover Fire Department
33. East Hanover Fire Department
34. Madison Fire Department
35. Wharton Fire Department
36. Paterson Fire Department
37. Boonton Fire Department
38. St. Clare’s Hospital Emergency Medical Services
39. Atlantic Health Emergency Medical Services
40. Morris County Dept. of Law & Public Safety
41. Morris County Office of Emergency Management
42. Morris County Prosecutor’s Office
43. Morris County Park Police
44. Morris County Sheriff’s Office
45. Bergen County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit
46. NJ State Police
47. NJ Transit Police Department
48. NJ Dept. of Transportation
49. NJ Division of Fire Safety
50. Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives