The fire has escalated into an 11-alarm blaze, prompting a state of emergency and widespread evacuations in Belleville, New Jersey. It broke out at a commercial mattress warehouse complex on May 4, 2026, and quickly spread to multiple nearby buildings.
Firefighters from Belleville and surrounding communities are working tirelessly to contain the flames. However, strong winds have complicated their efforts, causing the fire to grow even larger. Residents like Jonathan McCann shared their shock: “I was working out, and I look out the window at the gym. I saw smoke covering everything… it just kept growing.”
Compounding the situation, low water pressure has hindered firefighting efforts. Jeff Oliver, a local resident, expressed his concern: “I have to leave my house because it’s going to be dangerous. They don’t have a lot of water for finishing this fire.”
Hazardous materials stored on site—including helium and oxygen tanks—have raised alarms among emergency services. Frank Velez, the township’s director of emergency management, emphasized safety: “Your health is first and we don’t want anybody to get caught in a place where they don’t need to be and exposed to more smoke than we need to.”
As firefighters continue their battle against the blaze—now burning for over eight hours—multiple families have been evacuated from their homes. The American Red Cross is providing assistance to those affected; currently, eight people are receiving help.
The fire has not only displaced residents but also caused power outages across Belleville. Additionally, the 911 system in neighboring Nutley went down due to the incident.
No injuries have been reported as of the latest updates, but officials stress that the situation remains critical. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
