By Sharon Adarlo
The Star-Ledger
NEWARK, N.J. — A Newark firefighter was in serious but stable condition yesterday after he plunged 30 feet through a building skylight and landed on a cement floor while fighting a four-alarm blaze Sunday night, authorities said.
Kevin Killeen, a 57-year-old battalion chief, was at University Hospital yesterday after suffering numerous broken bones from the accident at 38-58 Branford St., a commercial building, said Fire Chief Michael Lalor. Killeen was on the roof of that building while examining the next door building at 282-288 Sherman Ave., which was engulfed in flames, when he fell.
“He was alert and conscious,” said Lalor about when Killen, who has been with the fire department since 1974, was transported to the hospital. “He’s a hardworking, dedicated battalion chief,” Lalor added.
Firefighters were called at 8:15 p.m. to Sherman Avenue where they encountered flames shooting 40 to 50 feet into the air and heavy black smoke emanating from the building, Lalor said. The one-story brick structure houses United Community Corporation, an organization that does automotive training, and had 30 cars inside.
About 100 firefighters responded to the scene as departments in East Orange, Orange, Irvington and Montclair were on standby, Lalor said.
During the course of the fire, Killeen was next door surveying the extent of the blaze when he stepped through a plastic roof cover that is used as a skylight, Lalor said. Killeen was wearing full protection gear including tanks when he plunged through the roof and apparently landed on his back.
Firefighters put the flames under control at 9:45 p.m. but didn’t leave the scene until the following day at 1 p.m. because of lingering embers, Lalor said.
While the cause of the fire has not been determined, it was not considered suspicious, Lalor said.
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