"SEVERE, INTENSE" SIX-ALARM FIRE RIPS INTO AVALON BAY APARTMENT PROJECT

A six-alarm fire dubbed "severe" that took more than four hours to bring under control ripped into a portion of the Avalon Bay apartment complex under construction at Springfield and Boyden avenues this morning sparking millions in damages and requiring more than 100 firefighters to extinguish.

Fire Chief Michael Dinglstedt said the fire broke out at about 1:30 a.m. in a portion of the 235-unit complex still under construction and eventually went to six alarms. He said it was brought under control by 5:30 a.m. with the help of outside units that included Jersey City, Millburn, Irvington and others.

See some video of the scene below:




The only injuries reported were one Maplewood firefighter who slipped on the icy conditions. Dinglestedt had no cause determined as of yet, but said the Essex County Prosecutor's Office was investigating.

"It was very severe, a very intense fire, difficult to fight," the chief said. "About 120 to 130 firefighters at the height of the fire."

See more of our interview with the chief below:



Avalon Bay officials were on the scene, but declined comment. The complex had completed two stages of construction, but the third area still being built was the portion that suffered the most damage.

Mayor Vic Deluca was also on the scene early.

The fire and clean-up closed off several streets this morning, including Springfield Avenue between Burnett Avenue and Boyden, as well as portions of Boyden on either side of Springfield Avenue.

There was also a brief power outage overnight related to the fire, according to officials. 

We will provide more details as they are available.