Overview
- The blaze, which erupted Sunday afternoon at 347 Cortlandt Street, grew to a 12–14 alarm fire that leveled an entire block and sent smoke visible from Manhattan.
- By Tuesday, the fire was reduced to smoldering hotspots, the township remained under a state of emergency, and Belleville Public Schools stayed closed.
- Surveillance video appears to show the moment flames ignited inside the mattress facility, and officials say welding work is the leading theory under investigation.
- Dozens of departments responded under mutual aid as crews faced low water pressure and shifted to defensive, exterior operations due to collapse risks.
- The fire spread on strong winds, destroying businesses and two nearby homes, forcing evacuations, and leaving two firefighters treated for smoke inhalation as the Red Cross assists displaced families.