"WE GOT A JOB!"

A look at Newark's Bravest in action...

March 3, 1965 - 3-Alarms - Box 5426 - Tour 1
370 Adams Street and 401 South Street
The Lowenstein Scrap Rubber Co. sat on a huge, triangular parcel of land bound-
ed by South Street to the north, Adams Street to the west, and rail ines to the east
and south. The scrap yard contained tens of thousands of tires of all kinds and siz-
es. The location was no stranger to Newark's Bravest, who fought several major fi-
res there over the years. This day would be one of the worst.

At 14:15 hours, Engine 14 was sent on a Signal 5 to check a report of an outside fi-
re at South and Adams Streets. On arrival, they found that a brush fire had spread
into Lowenstein's scrap yard, and requested a full box be transmitted.

At 14:20 hours, Box 5426 was struck, bringing Engines 27, 5, 8, and 10, Trucks 4 and
1, Battalion 5, Deputy 2, and Salvage 1 to the scene.

With a rapidly spreading fire in a large open area, Deputy 2 requested a second
alarm, bringing Engines 2, 16, 20, 6, Truck 5, Battalion 2, and Rescue 1 to the scene.

As the flames spread unchecked over thousands of tires, a towering column of thi-
ck black, visible for miles in all directions, rose hundreds of feet into the sir, mark-
ing the site of the blaze.

The following relocations of companies were made after the second alarm to cov-
er vacated firehouses: Engines 11 to 27, 21 to 1, and 28 to 6; Truck 2 to 4, and Batt-
alion 1 to 2.

Master streams and large-caliber handlines were put into operation, but seemed to
have little effect on the flames. With the fire now threatening to spread to the surr-
ounding industrial area, a third alarm was struck.

Answering the third alarm were: Engines 11/27, 21/1, and 12, and Truck 2/4. Engine 1
also responded to the scene after finishing operations at a Signal 5 they were at.
Additional relocations were made: Engine 4 to 1; Engine 17 to 27; Wagon 17 to Eng-
ine 12, and Truck 7 to 4.

At the height of the blaze, firefighters had a ladder pipe, three deck guns, and two
deluge sets in operation. Foam was also put to work on the outside fringes in an ef-
fort to contain the fire, which proved successful. In addition to the six master strea-
ms, Newark Blazebeaters operated 21, 2-1/2-inch handlines, and eight, 1-1/2-inch
handlines. A total of 266 lengths of 2-1/2-inch and 23 lengths of 1-1/2-inch hose were
stretched, and 100 feet of ladders were raised. Engine duty at the scene totalled
nearly 132 hours. Special Service delivered approximately 550 gallons of gasoline
to the various companies operating at the scene.

The fire was eventually confined to the yard and brought under control after a ba-
ttle of several hours, but the fire burned for days afterward.

On April 6, 1970, Lowenstein's experienced another spectacular three-alarm fire.
Shortly after that fire, the city refused to grant Lowenstein's a certificate of occup-
ancy. Furthermore, they were ordered to clear the site and leave the city.
Photos by Captain Bob Meeker
NFD Photo Unit
NFDHA Collection

The members of Engine 20 operate the deck gun of their 1962 International/Bean hose wagon
among thousands of tires.