Dover blaze was 'warning shot' to town about understaffed fire department, chief says

DOVER — As a steady rain fell Monday on the charred remains of two businesses and residential dwellings on West Blackwell Street, authorities continued to investigate a fire that drew a five-alarm response on Saturday and displaced dozens of occupants.

The smoky blaze was quickly extinguished, without serious injury to victims or responders.

But the heroic efforts required by the first two firefighters at the scene should serve as a "warning shot" to Dover officials that the Fire Department desperately needs more staff, acting Fire Chief Robert Sperry said in an interview.

"I was chief during the 2018 fire," Sperry said, referring to another fire in downtown Dover that destroyed buildings and displaced up to 100 people. "What we talked about back then was we'd like to see four guys on a shift. Realistically we are about three to four short of that position. We're still pushing for that."

Saturday's blaze came almost exactly a month after former Dover Fire Chief Jon Filosa resigned, in what he said was a protest of the "broken" promises by town officials to hire more firefighters.

Fire Capt. John Sperry, the acting chief's brother, said initial indications are that the latest fire started on the second of two residential floors above 71, 73 and 75 West Blackwell St., where the Jai-Alai restaurant and a tattoo parlor are also located.

Why Dover fire was so hard to fight

An initial crew of two firefighters from Engine Company 5 was first to arrive on the scene near the Dewey Street intersection. The incident was quickly upgraded to a second alarm, and then a third, due to the extent of the fire and the number of potential occupants in the three attached structures, according to a Facebook post by Dover FMBA Local 60.

An evacuation of the structures was ordered at 4:10 p.m. as sagging spots in the roof complicated efforts to extinguish the blaze from above the restaurant. The incident eventually reached a fifth alarm before the fire was considered under control at about 5:30 p.m., John Sperry said.

Extreme weather and low staffing: NJ firefighters face series of new challenges

"The initial guys did a great job," John Sperry said. "The location of the fire, down a narrow street, made it difficult. But they hit the fire quick and knocked down the bulk of it so that it didn't spread further."

Engine 5's two-man crew began knocking down the bulk of the exterior fire using a deck gun while stretching to a nearby hydrant, the Local 60 post said. By then, the fire had already heavily infiltrated the cockloft, or attic, shared by the buildings, and with a water supply and mutual aid arriving on the scene, multiple hand lines were stretched to the top floor to attack it.

Water, smoke, fire damage

A woman who was cleaning up the tattoo parlor on Monday declined to comment. Police caution tape stretched from that shop to the corner. Orange stickers on 73 and 75 West Blackwell St., where the restaurant is, advised that the buildings were unsafe to occupy.

From West Blackwell Street, there was limited visible damage to the storefronts. "From what I saw, most of the restaurant damage was water damage," John Sperry said.

Behind the buildings, however, extensive black charring covered the exterior of the second and third floors, including a covered porch. Next door on Dewey Street, vinyl siding on the south side of the neighboring building had melted.

Chief: Near-tragedy averted

"Even with the advanced fire conditions on arrival and limited staffing, the first arriving engine and mutual aid companies did an excellent job in controlling this fire," the Local 60 post said.

But the union also said department understaffing has forced Dover fire companies to operate under unacceptable conditions.

"A two-man response to a structure fire is not only well below any recognized standard, it is outright dangerous," the post added. "The importance of an adequately staffed initial response cannot be overstressed. It determines the outcome of the incident as well as the safety of responders and potential victims."

Saturday's fire could have spread quickly to the entire downtown block, said Robert Sperry, the acting chief. He said he wouldn't characterize current staffing as a crisis but added that the blaze should serve as a "warning shot" to local officials.

The town of more than 18,000 people operates a Fire Department with 16 paid (also called "career") firefighters and about seven active volunteers. They responded to more than 3,000 emergency calls in 2022, he said.

"We are pushing [town officials] for that and fighting for incentives for people to join," the chief said. "We're trying to get a new ordinance passed, but the ordinance we gave to the town, we feel like it went to the lawyer's desk and it died. We've been saying this for so long, and nothing ever happens."

Filosa also cited staffing issues when he announced his resignation before the Dover Board of Alderman last month.

"I cannot run a department that needs improvements without the ability to make those improvements," he told the board.

"I do hope somehow that we are able to get the Fire Department the equipment so they have what they need to run their day-to-day business of keeping us safe," Mayor Carolyn Blackman said after Filosa resigned.

Red Cross aids 14 families, 71 people

The New Jersey Red Cross counted six families and 29 people displaced by the fire whom the organization was assisting. Including evacuated residents of neighboring buildings, who were let back into their apartments the next day, a total of 14 families and 71 people were aided by the Red Cross, according to New Jersey Red Cross Communications Director Diane Concannon.

A temporary shelter was set up at St. Mary's Church to house the displaced residents, but it was closed the next morning when only two families showed up.

"We are continuing to provide financial assistance for those affected," Concannon said Monday.

The mayor on Monday praised the responders and said donations are being accepted at Town Hall for the fire victims. Anyone who wants to donate to the cause can call Evelyn Santiago at 973-366-2200, ext. 1112, for more information.

"In these times, it takes many to get things done, and Dover always comes together to help our fellow residents," Blackman said. "I am thankful that no one was hurt, and now it is time to rebuild and get these families back on their feet."

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com 

Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Dover NJ fire chief says fire was 'warning shot' on understaffing