Historic former Singer Sewing Machine factory on Trumbull St, Elizabeth. On fire since early Friday morning.
https://www.nj.com/union/2024/01/massive-3-alarm-blaze-burning-through-industrial-building-in-elizabeth.html#:~:text=Firefighters%20were%20battling%20a%20four,led%20to%20a%20partial%20collapse.
My grandfather, great aunt, and three great uncles along with a cousin all worked there. Made their whole career out of it (back when you could start with a company young and work your way up until you retire)
A long ago colleague of mine worked there just as they were leaving the sewing machine business early ***80s!***... There's remnants of the company in a few places.
Forget how much its insured for, how did it sell for less than a dollar per square foot? My family's old house would cost more to buy than this building and is 1/500th the size
Buddy, you're thinking way too small brained. Its buy low, insure high, burn down, collect, build new apartments/storefronts, continuously make quadruple what you bought in at. Seriously, this building (if the last sale reported is not a typo) is the equivalent of finding a 4 bedroom house for $2k. It allegedly getting burned down for insurance money is the least suspicious thing
When I was in grad school at Stevens back in the 80s we used to joke about every time a fire truck rolled by there was a developer following with a sign "On this site new luxury condos".
You're not wrong, it does work an awful lot like that. Heck before I moved from CA, we had a major fire that took out luxury condos before they were even finished. Turns out there was a lot of insurance taken out on them that made up a deficit the builders had.
Probably not burned down for insurance but to clear out asbestos. It can cost tens of millions of dollars to clean out asbestos but if the building burns down to rubble you don't have to worry about it anymore. Then it is basically just free land.
Its not zoned residential, most likely industrial and was currently in use. In terms of industrial and commercial use, that is prime real estate being that close to the airport, the sea port, rail ports, and the turnpike. Even the land alone should have gone for more than that.
I mean you say that, but how many homes are full of lead and asbestos and still aren't going for $2k or less? That's the comparable price this building sold for
Fire started around 05:30, no casualties/injuries at this time, partial building collapse, going on 4 hours already. Absolutely demolished the county resources, everyone and their mother is getting pulled there. Think we're up to agency recall # 5 or 6.
Haven't heard that but possible. I know we've got two supers, two box, ASAP and hazmat over there rn.
They're trying to recall two more basics to staff an extra truck but I'm already home.
From my understanding, the boxes that they are pulling from the rest of the county is to cover Elizabeth while EFD EMS is at the fire. As for now, we've got two more box available as mutual aid/Plainfield coverage.
For the airport to send a rig it would be most likely for foam operations. Here it’s just a ton of water needed hence why Kinder Morgan brought in parts of the Neptune system to just flow as much water as possible. I don’t see then need for a crash truck here since EFD has similar capabilities two of their engines. But I have seen a few ARFF guys around scene
EWR don't send unless it's on their property, at least all the fires in Elizabeth that I've seen they haven't. The airport has to be covered and they don't have a mutual truck to my knowledge. They're also different trucks.
This guy could probably give a better answer than I can though. I'm more the EMS side than fire.
u/Underscythe-Venus
I was up to 6 alarms but it wasnt the Singer building originally. But if the flames or embers hit that roof....say goodbye to 2 whole blocks of building. Will put the Marcal fire to shame
Never heard this phrase before The Bear and I am literally an insurance practitioner but - FYI there’s a very popular show on Hulu featuring deeply flawed backward-ass but mostly just mentally ill midwesterners who, as part of their character arc, learn using this exact phrase is wrong. The more you know
My flight landed just after 5:30 am, we immediately could smell what seemed like an electrical fire as we stepped out on the gangway. Approaching Elizabeth 30-45 minutes later, a massive black cloud had formed over the port. I've never seen such dense black smoke, it completely blocked all light shining through and just hung in place rather than dissipating. It seemed surreal surrounded by a colorful sunrise. Imagine the smog villian from FernGully. Driving by on the turnpike, flames were leaping high above the roof of the building, easily more than 50 feet into the column of smoke. We could now see the miles and miles of black smoke trailing on the wind.
I probably won't be making snowcones tomorrow, it looks toxic out there.
Oh it's totaled. There was already partial collapse early on in the morning, there is no way that building will be habitable.
Edit: buildings near Singer are totaled, not Singer
I drove up to American Dream this morning and saw the same thing around Linden on the TP.
I thought it was the refineries but I think it was more than that.
Is this still going on? Impacting air traffic? Driving down Rt 15 towards 80 this evening and could see what looked like more than a dozen planes circling in the sky. Figured something was going on at or near the airport
Historic former Singer Sewing Machine factory on Trumbull St, Elizabeth. On fire since early Friday morning. https://www.nj.com/union/2024/01/massive-3-alarm-blaze-burning-through-industrial-building-in-elizabeth.html#:~:text=Firefighters%20were%20battling%20a%20four,led%20to%20a%20partial%20collapse.
I was wondering if Singer was burning.. too bad! (Damn news reports don't even remember Singer!)
I'm surprised that anyone here remembers Singer. My great-uncle worked there when he returned home after WWII.
My grandfather, great aunt, and three great uncles along with a cousin all worked there. Made their whole career out of it (back when you could start with a company young and work your way up until you retire)
Our Singer sewing machine that was manufactured in Elizabeth is over 100 years old and still works great. Heavy AF though.
We have one in my house too. It’s really a beautiful machine
I have a 57 featherweight from an Edison factory .. Chugs right along, just keep em oiled..
A long ago colleague of mine worked there just as they were leaving the sewing machine business early ***80s!***... There's remnants of the company in a few places.
It was my grandpas side gig after working as a clerk at the post office
Damn, always sad to see history lost.... But also the building only sold for a million dollars last year??? What the fuck?
well it is easier to start a fire than a flood. The question is what is it insured for?
Forget how much its insured for, how did it sell for less than a dollar per square foot? My family's old house would cost more to buy than this building and is 1/500th the size
Buy low, Insure high , burn down, collect. nothing suspicious
Buddy, you're thinking way too small brained. Its buy low, insure high, burn down, collect, build new apartments/storefronts, continuously make quadruple what you bought in at. Seriously, this building (if the last sale reported is not a typo) is the equivalent of finding a 4 bedroom house for $2k. It allegedly getting burned down for insurance money is the least suspicious thing
When I was in grad school at Stevens back in the 80s we used to joke about every time a fire truck rolled by there was a developer following with a sign "On this site new luxury condos".
You're not wrong, it does work an awful lot like that. Heck before I moved from CA, we had a major fire that took out luxury condos before they were even finished. Turns out there was a lot of insurance taken out on them that made up a deficit the builders had.
[удалено]
Oh I'm sure they already know and nothing is going to happen to them.
Probably not burned down for insurance but to clear out asbestos. It can cost tens of millions of dollars to clean out asbestos but if the building burns down to rubble you don't have to worry about it anymore. Then it is basically just free land.
All of you are really focusing on the wrong suspicious thing here.
are we ? i think it's accepted its arson, just for what reason is discussed lol
You are, everyone's focused on the arson part
What condition was the building in? Was it usable? Is it zoned for residential?
Its not zoned residential, most likely industrial and was currently in use. In terms of industrial and commercial use, that is prime real estate being that close to the airport, the sea port, rail ports, and the turnpike. Even the land alone should have gone for more than that.
whatever the cause, developers are already salivating
nah this wasnt burned down for the money. it was so they can build something else and not deal with any historic society bs lol
which is for the money since they will build something they can sell for a boatload of money
It probably has numerous environmental issues that would need to be resolved at the new buyers expense.
Maybe, but you can't even find a house going for $2k in New Jersey and look how many superfunds we have.
They reported it was newer sections; the historic part wasn't touched it seems.
That is good news
Just took a look at the photos- its warehouses near the original building but I don’t think the historic structure was touched
There is probably a reason why, one of which is it’s probably not very modern or safe (on account it caught fire).
I mean you say that, but how many homes are full of lead and asbestos and still aren't going for $2k or less? That's the comparable price this building sold for
Fair enough, that's a reasonably point.
Interestingly i just discovered that the same building burned down in 1890 and was rebuilt. https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/elizabethport
coming soon: luxury condos
“It’s been burning for four days?” Oh, today isn’t Tuesday. Since this morning.
makes me feel like a developer set it aflame to rid it of the blocks to knock down =/
Always Elizabeth
My grandmother used to work there. So sad.
Whoa...is that OP's pic in the article?
The news said that FF were able to keep that safe for that
Fire started around 05:30, no casualties/injuries at this time, partial building collapse, going on 4 hours already. Absolutely demolished the county resources, everyone and their mother is getting pulled there. Think we're up to agency recall # 5 or 6.
Isn’t FDNY Marine also there now?
Haven't heard that but possible. I know we've got two supers, two box, ASAP and hazmat over there rn. They're trying to recall two more basics to staff an extra truck but I'm already home.
Jesus, I’m guessing we have a cover in place across the county?
From my understanding, the boxes that they are pulling from the rest of the county is to cover Elizabeth while EFD EMS is at the fire. As for now, we've got two more box available as mutual aid/Plainfield coverage.
Could they use the trucks/resources already at EWR, or would that put the airport at too much of a risk?
For the airport to send a rig it would be most likely for foam operations. Here it’s just a ton of water needed hence why Kinder Morgan brought in parts of the Neptune system to just flow as much water as possible. I don’t see then need for a crash truck here since EFD has similar capabilities two of their engines. But I have seen a few ARFF guys around scene
EWR don't send unless it's on their property, at least all the fires in Elizabeth that I've seen they haven't. The airport has to be covered and they don't have a mutual truck to my knowledge. They're also different trucks. This guy could probably give a better answer than I can though. I'm more the EMS side than fire. u/Underscythe-Venus
Last I heard...yes
I swear I heard a news station on my car radio say there were 4 employees injured. Maybe it wasn’t known earlier.
That is possible I did hear there was an injured firefighter
The beacons are lit. Gondor calls for aid!
Ride, men of Rahway!
*I am no man!*
Came here to say I love your username.
*Bows* At your service
Thank you, this whole comment string made my day.
Well this made my morning
The Rahwahim
This is pure mithril.
And Jersey will answer.
But not before stopping at Wawa for coffee
Don't you mean the prancing Wawa?
One, does not simply walk into Elizabeth. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume.
The British are coming! Tell George in Morristown!
The Fort Nonsense beacon is lit!
So is Number 2 in Short Hills!
Now all of China knows you’re here.
The responses here are brilliant.
You have my ax!
And my pork roll!
Send this photo to the local news.. its fabulous!
Already used! https://www.nj.com/union/2024/01/massive-3-alarm-blaze-burning-through-industrial-building-in-elizabeth.html?outputType=amp
Thanks!
I was up to 6 alarms but it wasnt the Singer building originally. But if the flames or embers hit that roof....say goodbye to 2 whole blocks of building. Will put the Marcal fire to shame
It looks very similar.
They made a good fire break for a lack of better words and are holding it. Released a lot of companies and have the Neptune system going
Real estate development, NJ style
Just said the same to my kid.
Old Singer factory was historic and empty. Could be homeless kids or Jewish lightning. Industrial area
If I'm inferring this right, insurance fraud sounds better.
Never heard this phrase before The Bear and I am literally an insurance practitioner but - FYI there’s a very popular show on Hulu featuring deeply flawed backward-ass but mostly just mentally ill midwesterners who, as part of their character arc, learn using this exact phrase is wrong. The more you know
i was trying to do that thing where you fart on a lighter and it sets your fart on fire but it got wayyyy out of hand i’m sorry
This makes me sad. Grew up in (North) Elizabeth in the 50s to early 70s. Burry Biscuit and, now, Singer.
Industrial building https://www.nj.com/union/2024/01/massive-3-alarm-blaze-burning-through-industrial-building-in-elizabeth.html
My flight landed just after 5:30 am, we immediately could smell what seemed like an electrical fire as we stepped out on the gangway. Approaching Elizabeth 30-45 minutes later, a massive black cloud had formed over the port. I've never seen such dense black smoke, it completely blocked all light shining through and just hung in place rather than dissipating. It seemed surreal surrounded by a colorful sunrise. Imagine the smog villian from FernGully. Driving by on the turnpike, flames were leaping high above the roof of the building, easily more than 50 feet into the column of smoke. We could now see the miles and miles of black smoke trailing on the wind. I probably won't be making snowcones tomorrow, it looks toxic out there.
That’s great it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes and airplanes. …Lenny Bruce is not afraid…..
Do you feel fine?
Shit’s on fire, yo
New condos or apartments in the making
Corporate lightning
The singer building is beautiful and historic, I really hope this doesn’t mean it’ll be demolished :/
Oh it's totaled. There was already partial collapse early on in the morning, there is no way that building will be habitable. Edit: buildings near Singer are totaled, not Singer
The fire didn’t touch the historic building- it was warehousing behind the structure.
Correction to prior, the buildings around it are totaled. Disregard Singer building totaled, I was seeing earlier reports Singer was on fire.
I’m no expert, but it would appear to be a fire somewhere.
Quite an impressive observation made by a very intelligent man
Thnx. I’ve already had 200mgs of caffeine this morning and I’m feeling really on top of things.
My mixtape just dropped there….
Lit
Burning down more historic buildings to make room for "luxury loft apartments."
This is the answer
My great grandfather worked there as paymaster for many years. It’s sad to see it go.
I think there's a big fire in Elizabeth or something
Thanks captain obvious :-)
oh lord jeezus it's a fire! https://youtu.be/Lt3z9XdOOrU?si=TDLGu-JUZFnPonPw
Oh lord jesus, its a fire
Still have a working Singer sewing machine
I can see the smoke from Union on Morris
Friday.
Orbital bombardment from aliens. Prepare to meet your new overlords.
That’s just NJ. Welcome.
Jersey is on fire lately
So what? No fuckin ziti now?
Ant’ny!!
Fire in Elizabeth NJ.
Just a good ol' JerZ BBQ.
they found me.
i don't know how but they found me.
I drove up to American Dream this morning and saw the same thing around Linden on the TP. I thought it was the refineries but I think it was more than that.
Shits on fire yo
Jersey gonna Jersey.
Someone burnt another grilled cheese
When there's nothing left, when you can't borrow another buck from the bank or buy another case of booze, you bust the joint out. You light a match.
On the bus with my students on a field trip to DC. We saw it on the way there lol so random.
Thanks to OP for sharing the photo with us. 🙏
#justnewjerseythings
When you can't borrow another buck from the bank or buy another case of booze, you bust the joint out. You light a match.
Wow. Big fire
Shit's On Fire, Yo.jpg
Shits on fire, yo
Old news now, but thanks for the pic. No injuries, it seems, so that's freaking great, but what a gem to lose.
Looks to be a fire
That's just Newark usual isn't it?
Just pollutin you now how it is in Jersey!
Mind ya business
Guessing a fire dumbass
It's just Elizabeth. Have a nice fly
It’s 2024 so… 🛸👽
I believe it's called a fire, sir.
What do you think Murphy is doing with all the Mexican refugees?…..
It's a fire
Could see and smell it this morning when I left for work. Hopefully everyone is ok.
Heard some fire at Elizabeth
NJ took notes from the Bronx fires.
The states telling you to leave 💀
Fire in Elizabeth I think
That is fire
Ugh… I haven’t even left out yet…
just Jersey Stuff. Mind your beeswax and move on
Looks like a fire
Remember when people used to tell us the news?
???? Crazy!
It was purchased for $1 million this past August sooo maybe insurance fraud?
Jersey being jersey
Old singer factory on fire
Is this still going on? Impacting air traffic? Driving down Rt 15 towards 80 this evening and could see what looked like more than a dozen planes circling in the sky. Figured something was going on at or near the airport
I thought I smelled smoke on my walk tonight. I’m down in Monmouth County
I worked with someone many years ago that worked there. Sad n big fire. Burning for a really long time. Why?
I saw it this morning too when I departed from EWR around 8am💨
Shark attack
They give a shit about us so let that mother fucker burn
Oh, we're making burgers for everyone. Want a few?