7/2/2007:

Freelance photographer Ray Perfetti was near the scene last night and sent these great pictures in to share with the readers.

7/1/2007:
11:48pm Update:

Progress from the fire. HFD is “cautiously optimistic” that they’ve contained the fire due to the compartmentalized nature of the building. They’re continuing with water from the hydraulic ladder.

11:44pm Update:

2nd Alarm. Port Authority has notified HFD “not to enter the building”. High-voltage inside and multiple dangerous shafts. They are to attack the fire from the exterior only.

PATH service has been suspended.

11:15pm:
In the area near 54 Hudson Place, it was reported that there was a “large odor of smoke”. It’s apparently coming from that building across the street from Hobson’s.

Listening to the live police scanner, I learned something about that building. It’s apparently a large warehouse type of facility that is used (or was used) to service the PATH trains. There’s a large elevator shaft in there that can lift the PATH trains off the tracks for repairs, etc.

Apparently there were some “squatters” in there, and may have caused a fire. HFD is using extreme caution as the try to diagnose the source of the smoke. It sounds like it’s a very precarious layout and they’re “bringing lines” in to extinguish the fire. They found the source of the heat (behind a door), and also noted there is a large smoke condition coming from the second floor.

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