7/25/2008:

This was supposed to be up hours ago, but I got held up a bit… you know.. stuff happens.

Anyway, just after midnight today, a construction dumpster at 812 Washington Street magically caught on fire (it couldn’t have been those new “Fire Safety” cigarettes now, could it)?

I spotted the fire nearly three blocks away and walked with my trusty dog to check it out.

Lo Behold, I run into Roger Muller, of Muller Insurance! He conveniently had snapped exclusive video coverage with his reliable Canon Powershot point and shoot camera. Better than that, he trusted me with his flash memory card so I could make this patriotic video. When I asked him “what soundtrack do you suggest?”, he said “Stars and Stripes, because of the GREAT job the Hoboken Fire Department did.”

“If they got here just a few minutes later, it could have been much worse, possibly damaging nearby vehicles!”

Agreed, Mr. Muller. So here’s your Hoboken411 video debut, along with John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Even if you don’t care to watch a lowly dumpster on fire, at least watch to get into a patriotic mood!

Hoboken Dumpster Fire July 25 2008 from Hoboken411 on Vimeo.

7/24/2008:

2am is considered “evening” for me, and as always, I have the Live Hoboken Police and Fire Scanner on.. (it’s becoming razor blades to my ear drums at this point), but I heard something of interest a few minutes ago…

“909 Clinton Street, electrical fire in apartment 3B…”

From the sounds of it, there seems to be some “charring” near a wall outlet, and nothing serious, as all companies have “returned to quarters.” Crews on scene used their trusty thermal imaging camera to ensure there was no fire creep in the walls.

However, some of you who’ve actually lived in Hoboken for a while might remember the 1998 inferno on the same block (marked by the X**) which destroyed three five-story buildings. You could feel the heat all the way in the middle of Columbus Park!

7/9/2008:

There was a fire and 411 missed it? That’s what happens when I actually have a moment to have a great night out!

Anyway, a Hoboken411 reader caught this fire last night after 10pm at Sims Pump Valve Co. on Park ave. (near Malibu Diner):

Smoke and firemen

“Hello,

Here are some pics of the HFD knocking down a fire which appeared to be inside the Sims Pump Company. It’s on Park Ave btwn 13th & 14th, adjacent to the Malibu Diner. The place looked empty at the time, aprox. 9pm. I could hear a buzz saw, perhaps they had to break in to get to the fire. I could only see smoke from my vantage point. I did hear that it was moved up to a 2nd alarm. In any case, a pretty big response… many vehicles, both fire & police.”

PHOTO GALLERY (HOLD MOUSE OVER IMAGE TO NAVIGATE - 8 PHOTOS IN THIS SET)

6/17/2008 Update:

Exterior work nearly complete

The rising of McSwiggans from the ashes has been a remarkably quick process considering the amount of changes made to the structure rebuilt from what was a partially destroyed shell just six months ago. With the scaffolding now down the extent of the building redesign can be seen. A new stone wall with what are likely to become large doors is on the Bloomfield side of the building with a very nice new stained glass feature. The building was practically rebuilt standing up brick-by-brick, and many details have been altered, including the shapes of the window surrounds. Look closely and you’ll see a new, additional stack of windows on the western wall.

What’s the secret to such a quick rehab? Is it the proximity to the Construction Code office right across the street at City Hall? The contractors and architects? Whatever it is Applied Housing should find out, because the 12th and Washington fire site remains well behind McSwiggans when it comes to rebuilding, and many people in Yellow Flats have suffered because of the delays.

PHOTO GALLERY (HOLD MOUSE OVER IMAGE TO NAVIGATE - 8 PHOTOS IN THIS SET)

See previous updates after the jump…

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

5/18/2008:

All the commotion uptown is for a small fire that occurred at 1219 Willow Ave, apt. 10.

It sounds like the fire has been contained at this time. Let’s home there’s no “creep” and it stays out. Also appears that it may have been another case of careless cooking. Happens quite often in Hoboken.

5/17/2008:

At about 4:35pm a call came into HFD (via HPD) about a “fully involved” car fire near the Senior building at 221 Jackson St.

Ironically, this would be the best time to park illegally in front of a hydrant, like this car had done.

4/25/2008 Update:

They caught the culprit!

“An arrest has been made in the Davis Hall incident. The individual involved is a student who resided in Davis Hall and has been suspended effective immediately. He will not be allowed to return to campus. He is in the custody of the Hudson County Prosecutors Office.

Thank you again to all those from the Stevens Community and the surrounding law enforcement agencies who helped us resolve this situation.”

4/25/2008 Update:

While I got my three hours of sleep today, one Stevens student sent this to Hoboken411:

“This seems like more than an electrical fire. I went outside after the alarm, did hear “electrical” from someone as well, but then they told all the students waiting outside to move into Hayden Lounge (the building next to Davis). Now they’ve herded us all into Canavan Arena and are supplying food and water (though that could just as easily be a result of the time and not the nature of the situation). Rumor going around is they’re also going to interview us all. Wonder if this is punishment for actually going to sleep at a decent hour for once?”

4/25/2008:

Not that this is normally relevant, as there are many false alarms at Stevens Institute, but there is currently a situation at Davis Hall (the location of the arson incident earlier this week).

It initially seemed as if there was some kind of electrical fire brewing on the 4th floor of that building. The same floor where the arson fire took place. It actually turned out to be a “book” in a closet on the 4th floor. Who sets books on fire?

Could be nothing, but thought it’d be worth mentioning due to the recent turn of events.

Updated with picture of burnt door…

4/23/2008 2:40pm Update:

One student told Hoboken411 that it was a door that was set on fire in the dorm. Additionally, it was a “bomb threat” type note which was left, resulting in the searching of all buildings on campus (still ongoing).

The student suspected that this person didn’t have his project ready for the year-end Senior Design competition. Each year, students in each respective field team up and present what they’ve learned. I suppose “How to engineer a calculated disruption of an entire college campus” was not one of the official entries.

4/23/2008 12:30pm:

Apparently some trouble brewing over at Stevens Institute. An arson investigation is underway for a fire last night, and restrictions are in place on the campus. Not sure if this was trouble between students, or something worse.

Stevens Campus Alert

On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, there was a case of arson on the fourth floor of Davis Hall, the Hoboken Fire Department responded and there were no injuries or serious damage. An arson investigation is underway. In addition, a threatening note was found in the fourth floor bathroom on Wednesday, April 23rd at approximately 8:30 a.m.

All members of the campus community are asked to have their Stevens ID available on their person.

Here are some pictures from the campus today, provided by David Pfeffer from “The Stute.”

3/27/2008:

About 15 minutes in the past, it’s likely some “up to no good” individual(s) purposely set a couple trash bins on fire on the 1100 block of Hudson Street. The mini-blazes were extinguished instantly by the crack-staff at the Hoboken Fire Department.

However, my imagination got the best of me, and I photoshopped what I thought “Giant” garbage bin fires would look like, and came up with a “straight to video” title and cover in the process.

Does anyone know what massive sleep-deprivation can lead to? What are the short and long term health detriments, if any? Didn’t Einstein need only 45 seconds of sleep a week or something along those lines?

3/20/2008:

Uh oh, now that I skipped my nap and have been listening to the Live Hoboken Police and Fire scanner, I heard yet another call come through…

Philly’s Cheese Steaks has a smoke condition over at 523 Washington St.

“I said EASY on the peppers!!!”

Actually, cause again by a cigarette but thrown in the front, and was quickly extinguished.