Fire Safety Concerns Noted At River Road Development In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — As work on the 245-unit luxury apartment complex in Chatham Borough continues, a Chatham resident and former captain in the Bloomfield Fire Department warned the council about potential fire hazards within the building.

Bob Penn spoke in front of the Chatham Borough Council on March 27, about the River Road redevelopment project, now dubbed "The Ivy of Chatham."

The building, which will have 245 rental units, will have a three-story base at the intersection of Watchung Avenue and River Road, four stories along that stretch of river, and finally five stories in the back of the structure.

Penn discussed how, despite following all codes, the building's structure is potentially hazardous if it were to catch fire.

"I don't want to give the impression that it's unsafe for residents; it's not. When the building is not on fire, they are very sound structures," Penn said.

The problem with the building arises in the event of a fire. According to Penn, if the Ivy were to catch fire, it would create an "extremely dangerous" situation for not only residents but also potential rescue teams.

"When I heard there is not going to be access to the back half of that building, you probably saw my jaw drop in the back of the room. That is five stories high back there. You are not going to reach somebody if someone is trapped... you're not going to reach them with a ground ladder," Penn said.

Read more: Fire Concerns For Chatham's River Road Project Addressed By Developer

According to officials, because of the materials used in its construction, the River Road redevelopment project is considered a lightweight structure.

"One way you could make a rescue back there is you can get a rescue team out on the roof and lower a firefighter down and do what's called a pick, where you take them out of the window. Unfortunately, because the roof systems are trussed, they are prone to collapse. So you'll either lose the rescue team along with the victim," Penn said.

Another point brought up during the meeting was the building's proximity to the railway. Penn stated that if a potential fire causes a heavy smoke condition, the railroad wires could be affected, potentially resulting in electrocution.

"If you have firefighters working in the back and there is a heavy smoke condition, they can be electrocuted if that smoke mixes with the catenary wires," Penn said.

Penn argued that, given the dangerous conditions, the council should prioritize the local fire department and ensure that all of its equipment is up-to-date.

One of the current issues with the fire engine that can endanger the fire department is the lack of an electrical load manager, which means that if they are operating at a scene and use too much electricity for the engine to handle, the engine will shut down completely.

The current fire apparatus is 34 years old, and Penn claims that receiving a new one takes years, which means that even if the borough ordered a new apparatus right now, it would take another four years to arrive.

"My concerns with River Road are that you're going to have a building down there, and I don't blame the council, I don't blame the zoning board. The codes are not developed by firefighters, and as a result, these lightweight construction buildings are extremely hazardous to these firefighters," Penn said.

This article has been amended to add the date of the town council meeting. A follow-up to this article has been posted addressing the concerns. Fire Concerns For Chatham's River Road Project Addressed By Developer.