Mayor Lauds Firefighters for Efforts in Fighting Saturday’s Deadly Blaze

The public portion of the Fort Lee Mayor and Council meeting was brief Thursday evening, with few items on the agenda, but the highlight of the evening was Mayor Mark Sokolich praising the work of Fort Lee’s volunteer firefighters during Saturday night’s fatal fire on McCloud Dr.

“This past Saturday evening, we had a fire fatality here in Fort Lee,” Sokolich began. “And I had … the privilege along with [councilman Harvey Sohmer] of first hand experience of our volunteer fire department in action. It was the most incredible orchestration of effort and of commitment and of bravery. And it just re-confirms that we here in government are doing the right thing by devoting the resources to these emergency services that we’re doing.”

Speaking directly to Fort Lee Fire Chief Jeffery Silver, who was in attendance at the council’s executive session, Sokolich said he was impressed witnessing the chief “at that command center with all your officers and everybody there and approaching that fire.”

Sokolich also said he was pleased with the mutual aid effort provided by area fire departments that assisted in fighting the fire, “seeing Ridgefield in one section and Leonia in another section and Palisades Park and all the others, like we do for them.”

Silver told Patch this week that all four Fort Lee fire companies fought the blaze with help from fire departments from Leonia, Cliffside Park, Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Englewood and Englewood Cliffs. Silver said some were working at the scene, while others covered Fort Lee’s firehouses in case there were other calls.

“I understand that we learn through our experiences; There are some things that we need to bring to light as a result of what occurred on Saturday,” Sokolich said, noting issues with radio batteries and water pressure.

“We have critiques on a regular basis after any incident,” Silver responded. “And a lot of things went well, and there tactical things that any fire department [can improve upon].”

Killed in the fire was 94-year-old Rosa Morell, who lived in the house at 290 McCloud Dr. that Silver previously said had been burning for quite some time when firefighters arrived on scene with her daughter Sonia Velasquez-Puentes, who Silver said is “in her 70s.”

“It was so unfortunate what occurred,” Sokolich said. “But I truly wish the public could get a snapshot of what occurred on Saturday. Just it was an incredible effort.”

After the meeting Silver told Patch that among several firefighters who sustained minor burns and injuries fighting the deadly blaze, it was firefighter Pat Peluso who suffered the most. Silver said Peluso was taken to the hospital, treated and released Saturday night, but then had to check back in the following morning, suffering from first and second degree burns to his face. Peluso was again released.

“To get an idea as to how hot this place was, it wasn’t fire,” Sokolich pointed out. “It was steam from what I understand. It was on the outskirts of it, and he was still burned.”