2 Businesses Badly Damaged, 11 People Homeless In Middlesex Boro Fire

MIDDLESEX BORO, NJ — Multiple businesses in Middlesex borough were badly damaged in a two-alarm fire that broke out there Saturday morning, and 11 residents total lost their homes in the fire.

The fast-moving fire tore through a collection of homes, businesses and apartments at 9:30 Saturday morning, said Middlesex Police.

As of Monday morning, Classic Cuts Barbershop, Boulevard Café & Deli and the apartments above those two businesses remain closed and uninhabitable. Silvia’s Pupuseria, which sells Central American griddle cakes, also had to temporarily close and a third apartment had to be vacated.

The fire broke out at 9:31 a.m. on the 600 block of Lincoln Boulevard. Middlesex borough police started receiving 911 calls from witnesses passing by reporting a fire.

Arriving police officers found a working structure fire at the mixed-use buildings, which were a collection of apartments and businesses. Everyone had safely evacuated. There were initial reports on Twitter that people were trapped, but those were not accurate, said Middlesex borough police.

The fire rose to two-alarm status, and the Middlesex Fire Department, assisted by firefighters and equipment from the Dunellen, Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Piscataway, South Plainfield and Franklin Township, had the fire under control within forty minutes.

The 11 displaced residents are currently being helped by the Middlesex Borough Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross and other community members.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Middlesex County Fire Marshal’s Office but is not believed to be suspicious at this time.