Parts of Washington Street Remain Closed; Damaged Building Will be Partially Demolished

The building that was devastated by a four-alarm fire on Sunday night will at least be partially demolished, according to city spokesman Juan Melli. 

The building was deemed uninhabitable after the fire, since the top floor of the building as well as parts of the back of the building were entirely destroyed.

The inside of the building was made up of eight condos—two on each floor—and two commercial businesses on the ground floor.

"While all residents of the building are safe, one was treated for smoke inhalation on Sunday night," Mayor Dawn Zimmer said. "At least 17 residents lived in the building, and at least nine did not have insurance."

Washington Street between Second and Fourth Streets will remain blocked off for about a week, Melli said. The demolition of the building will likely take about a week. 

During that time, NJ Transit is re-routing its buses.

The fire also damaged six vehicles parked on Third Street, according to a police report on the matter. 

When the fire broke out around 7 p.m. on Sunday, firemen rescued four people from the roof of the next-door building. Police said the people—residents of 300 Washington St.—had escaped through the side window of the burning building. One of the residents was treated for smoke inhalation at Hoboken University Medical Center, police said. 

A fundraiser has been organized for the victims of Sunday's fire for Friday March 2 at Room84. 

Saints Peter and Paul Church is coordinating victim assistance.

This is the first big fire since another devastating blaze, which took place on Dec. 18 when a building on the corner of First and Jackson Streets burned down.

"Sadly, some of our residents lost everything, but we have a strong and generous community that is rallying to their side," Zimmer said, "so we ask residents to give as much as they can to help."