Belleville, NJ — A massive warehouse fire tore through multiple buildings along Cortlandt Street on Sunday, forcing evacuations, knocking out power to key municipal services, and closing all Belleville public schools Monday as smoke and infrastructure damage continue to disrupt the township. The blaze, which escalated to at least a 12-alarm response, remains active as of Monday morning, with firefighters battling unstable structures and dwindling resources.
The fire began at a mattress warehouse at 347 Cortlandt Street before rapidly spreading across the 300 block, according to local reports and community updates. Multiple fire departments from across northern New Jersey responded as the situation intensified, drawing in task force units from Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, Union, and Morris counties. Firefighters from New York City have also arrived to provide support.
Fire overwhelms infrastructure and emergency services
The scale of the blaze quickly strained Belleville’s infrastructure. Officials reported widespread utility failures, including damaged power poles and gas meters that could not be shut off, creating ongoing hazards for crews on the ground.
At one point during the response, firefighters ran out of water, requiring tanker support from the U.S. Army to sustain suppression efforts. Residents in the surrounding area reported low to no water pressure as the fire continued to burn into Monday.
The incident also disrupted emergency communications. With Belleville’s police headquarters losing power, 911 calls are being temporarily routed through neighboring Nutley. Non-emergency police lines are down, with residents advised to contact the Belleville Fire Department directly for assistance.
Evacuations and air quality concerns spread beyond town
Families living near Cortlandt Street and Joralemon Street were evacuated as the fire expanded and multiple collapse zones developed. Officials warned of serious structural instability across several buildings affected by the flames.
Heavy smoke from the fire prompted air quality concerns beyond Belleville. Nearby towns, including North Arlington and Lyndhurst, were advised to keep windows closed as thick plumes drifted across the region.
The township declared a State of Emergency as conditions worsened, underscoring the scale and ongoing risk of the incident.
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Key Points
• 12-alarm fire spread across multiple buildings on Cortlandt Street in Belleville
• Power outages disrupted Town Hall, police operations, and 911 routing
• Evacuations ordered; schools closed Monday due to smoke and infrastructure impact
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Schools closed as fire continues burning
All Belleville Public Schools are closed Monday due to the fire’s continuing impact on local services and safety conditions. Officials cited ongoing smoke, reduced water pressure, and emergency resource strain as key factors behind the closure.
Residents have also been warned to expect continued service disruptions, including water supply issues and limited access to municipal support as crews focus on containing the blaze.
Regional response highlights scale of emergency
The response has drawn firefighters and emergency personnel from multiple counties, reflecting both the size of the fire and the challenges posed by its location near critical infrastructure corridors, including Route 21 and the Passaic River.
Community accounts described the area — historically known as “the Valley” — as densely built, a factor that may have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread from the original warehouse to neighboring structures.
Authorities have not yet released an official cause of the fire, and no injuries have been publicly confirmed as of Monday morning.
What comes next
Fire crews remain on scene working to contain hotspots and secure unstable buildings, while utility crews assess damage to power and gas lines. Air quality conditions and water pressure issues continue to affect residents in and around Belleville.
Officials have not provided a timeline for when services will be fully restored or when evacuated residents may be allowed to return.
The fire remains active, and the State of Emergency stays in effect as authorities continue managing what has become one of the township’s largest multi-agency emergency responses in recent years.
