UPDATE: The city released a Nixle alert at 7:53am alerting the public to the closure of Suydam Street.  It has since been re-opened and the fire has been contained.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—For the second time this year, firefighters from multiple companies responded to the 300 block of Suydam Street to fight structure fires in the early morning hours.

As we reported in April, a blaze that began at 328 Suydam Street displaced 20 people.  The home that suffered the most damage is finally undergoing demolition, but shortly after five this morning the home next to it caught fire.

The blaze eventually spread to a home on Railroad Avenue, and the pile of rubble at 328 Suydam Street as well, according to witnesses.

Once again, the city did not immediately use its emergency alert system to inform residents of the fire and the ensuing road closures.  Suydam Street was closed betwen Joyce Kilmer Avenue and French Street, as well as portions of Seaman Street and Railroad Avenue.

“The road closure is probably going to be lengthy here,” said one official over the police radio, suggesting the city make notifications.

According to early reports, no one was injured in the blaze but officials spoke of “several displaced families, including a lot of children.”

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.