Fierce Millville fire exposes bad fire hydrant

MILLVILLE - Firefighters at an intense blaze on Feb. 6 at the former Gil-Bear's Tavern found the closest hydrant inoperable, forcing them to switch to others nearby and the city Water Utility to increase water pressure in the area.

The Water Utility is taking apart the hydrant to find out why it did not work. The old tavern was on the corner of the 500 block of South 2nd Street, and the faulty hydrant was directly across the street on the northwest corner of Garfield Street.

“I don’t have any answers right now,” utility Supervisor Deric Cheeseman said on Wednesday. “We’re still investigating. The other hydrants work.”

Officials: Cause of tavern fire still unknown

Fire Chief Mike Lippincott said the first truck on the scene carried a 1,000-gallon water tank, and that was used while other hydrants were opened. The fire was so intense the 1,000 gallons had little effect, he said.

“I am confident that the initial issues did not affect the overall outcome of the fire," the chief said. "The volume of fire found on arrival and the old wood frame structure of the building were the major issues with this fire.”

Lippincott said firefighters used a hydrant on the 400 block of South 2nd Street, and an engine also drew water from a hydrant at 3rd Street and Kates Boulevard.

A cause for the fire has not been determined. The building’s sudden collapse during the fire came as a surprise, and the reason remains unknown.

Joseph P. Smith: (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com