1979 — Jan 20, Arson Fire, Tenement, Clinton Street, Hoboken, NJ — 21
— 21 Hoboken Fire Department. Hoboken Fires: Important Fires in Hoboken History.
— 21 Jacksonville Courier, IL. “Tenement fire ‘classic case’ of arson.” 1-22-1979, p. 1
— 21 NFPA. “Recent Multi-Fatality Fires,” US Congress, House. Boarding Home Fires, 71-73
— 21 National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. 1983, p. 138.
— 21 New York Times. “Hoboken: Fear of Fire Haunts Many,” Nov 8, 1981.
Narrative Information
Hoboken Fire Dept.: “1979: An arson fire at 131 Clinton Street claims 21 lives.” (Hoboken Fire Department. Hoboken Fires: Important Fires in Hoboken History.)
Newspapers
Jan 22, United Press International: “Hoboken, N.J. (UPI) — Firefighters searched today for the 20th and 21st victims in the blackened ruins of an 80-year-old Hoboken, N.J., tenement where an apparent “classic case” of arson took the lives of three families over the weekend. A crane, picking apart debris from the five-story, red-brick building, Sunday plucked the 19th victim from a landing on an upper floor and lowered it to the street. As had been done so many times earlier, the body was placed in a black plastic bag and taken to a nearby funeral home where grieving relatives identified the chaired and often mangled remains.
“Behind police barricades, about 200 predominantly Hispanic residents of the waterfront neighborhood quietly huddled under umbrellas as others filled apartment windows to watch the grisly search. A charcoal odor permeated the air as load after load of blackened wood, clothing and furniture was dumped on the pavement by the crane. Firemen using poles and shovels dug through the debris, which later was plowed up on the sidewalk by a bulldozer in a pile stretching halfway up the block.
“Capt. Ray Falco, the fire department’s chief arson investigator, took photographs and collected pieces of the steps and banister from the first floor hallway where investigators believe the fire was set. Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Jack Hill said five half-gallon tins containing ashes and debris from the stairwell area were sent to a state police laboratory for testing. An investigator at the scene, who declined to be named, said, “It looks like a classic case of arson.” He said it appeared someone poured flammable liquid from the top to the bottom of the five-story stairwell and tossed a match. Police Chief George Crimmins said investigators determined the blaze began on the stairwell.
“Eighteen victims were found Saturday — two were holding hands; a mother’s body was huddled over the body of her child. The fire started shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday, trapping most victims
in their beds. Seven of the 10 apartments in the building were occupied, some by large families sleeping eight and nine people to a room. Twenty-five people were sent to a nearby hospital and six remained hospitalized today.” (UPI. “Tenement fire ‘classic case’ of arson.” Jacksonville Courier, IL. 1-22-1979, p. 1.)
Nov 8, 1981, New York Times: “Deputy Fire Chief Edward McDonald… ‘’Sometimes, they’re [arson fires] just started by mischievous kids…’A lot of times they’re just playing, but people still die.’’ He noted that the January 1979 fire that killed 21 persons here was believed to have been set by a child who was among the victims.” (NYT. “Hoboken: Fear of Fire Haunts Many,” 11-8-1981.)
Sources
Hoboken Fire Department. Hoboken Fires: Important Fires in Hoboken History. Accessed 3-5-2013 at: http://www.hobokenfire.org/fires.cfm
National Fire Protection Association. “Recent Multi-Fatality Fires.” In: U.S. Congress, House. Boarding Home Fires: New Jersey (Hearing, March 9, 1981), pp. 71-73.
National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 1983.
New York Times. “Hoboken: Fear of Fire Haunts Many,” 11-8-1981. Accessed at: http://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/08/nyregion/hoboken-fear-of-fire-haunts-many.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
United Press International. “Tenement fire ‘classic case’ of arson.” Jacksonville Courier, IL. 1-22-1979, p. 1. Accessed 7-29-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=182296004&sterm