By Joe Moszczynski
The New Jersey Star-Ledger
 Photo Ron Johnson Two ladders pump water on to the roof of the self-storage facility, which was already partially collapsed when the Hardyston, N.J. assistant chief arrived on scene. |
HARDYSTON, NJ — More than 100 units at a self-storage facility on Route 94 in Hardyston were destroyed in a fire early yesterday morning that injured a township firefighter, police said.
The firefighter, whose name was not released by police, suffered from smoke inhalation and was taken to St. Clare’s Hospital in Sussex Borough, where he was treated and released.
Police and rescue squad units responded to an activated fire alarm at Advanced Self Storage on Route 94 North at 12:41 a.m. and found one of the two self-storage buildings engulfed in flames, police said.
The 16,000-square-foot, nonclimate-controlled building, which housed 105 units, and its contents were destroyed. The second building was not affected by the fire, police said.
Included among those who lost property in the fire was Advanced Self Storage owner Bob Van Zile of Hamburg, who lost his three antique cars, valued at more than $100,000, and a large amount of personal property in the blaze.
“I was probably the single largest loser,” he said.
Van Zile also offered apologizes to his customers.
“We extend our deepest apologizes to all of our tenants. We’re working closely with authorities to find a resolution to this,” he said. “It’s a devastating loss.”
Ninety-seven of the units were rented with eight vacancies, said Van Zile.
The blaze caused Route 94 to be closed until 8 a.m. About 26 area fire companies and rescue squads responded to the scene.
The cause of the fire was not determined, but it is not considered suspicious. Hardyston police, the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, the county fire marshal and the State Police Arson Unit are investigating.
Copyright 2008, The N.J. Star-Ledger