Two-Alarm Attic Fire Hits Summit Apartment Building on Kent Place Blvd

A two-alarm fire broke out Thursday evening in the attic of a nine-unit apartment building on the 100 block of Kent Place Boulevard in Summit. The fire was reported at approximately 6:20 p.m. Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, arriving within four minutes. No injuries were reported.

Residents reported hearing a loud boom and seeing debris come from the building's chimney during a severe thunderstorm moving through the region. Residents believed lightning struck the chimney, sending bricks flying and igniting the attic fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Crews contained the fire in the attic, opening walls and ceilings and blowing out windows to reach the flames. Firefighters conducted a primary search of the building to confirm all occupants had escaped safely. Residents of the nine-unit building were not permitted to return to their homes Thursday night pending Summit Department of Buildings determination of structural safety.

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Fire Chief Response and Crew Performance

Summit Fire Chief Brian Harnois commended responding personnel for rapid evacuation and fire containment: "I want to commend our crews for their quick and thorough efforts to safely evacuate all residents from the building and place the fire under control, as well as all additional responding agencies for their assistance during the incident."

Harnois noted that on-duty personnel had been responding to multiple storm-related emergency calls across Summit before the Kent Place Boulevard fire was reported. "All of our on-duty personnel were already out on the road responding to several storm-related calls when this one came through," Harnois said.

Response Time and Resource Deployment

Firefighters arrived at the scene within four minutes of the alarm. The rapid response enabled crews to contain the fire to the attic and prevent spread to adjacent units or the building structure.

Four-minute response time reflects departmental readiness and strategic personnel deployment despite simultaneous storm-related emergency calls across the city.

Severe Weather Conditions

Severe thunderstorms moved through the region Thursday evening, producing lightning and multiple storm-related emergencies throughout Summit. Lightning striking residential structures poses immediate fire hazard and risk of atmospheric electricity conducting through building materials.

Residents hearing loud boom and observing debris ejection from chimney provided eyewitness indication of lightning strike impact and structural damage.

Building Safety and Resident Displacement

Nine resident families were evacuated from the building Thursday evening. The Summit Department of Buildings was conducting structural assessment to determine whether the building was safe to occupy before residents could re-enter.

Resident displacement from residential building requires municipal coordination for emergency housing, resident notification, and building safety clearance before re-occupancy authorization.

Cause Under Investigation

The fire cause remains under investigation. Lightning strike remains suspected based on resident accounts and weather conditions, but official fire investigators must examine physical evidence and damage patterns to determine confirmed cause.

Investigation documentation provides essential information for building code compliance, insurance claim processing, and fire prevention education.

Firefighting Operations and Defensive Strategy

Crews opened walls, ceilings, and blew out windows to reach attic flames. Strategic ventilation removes heat and smoke from fire zone and enables firefighter access to burning materials within building cavities.

Defensive strategies prevent fire spread while enabling primary search for occupants and damage control throughout structure.

For Summit residents and property owners, the incident highlights lightning strike risk during severe thunderstorms and importance of rapid emergency response.

Find more Summit public safety and community news on Union County Life.

Photo Credit: City of Summit NJ

FAQ

Q: Where was the fire in Summit?
A: The fire was on the 100 block of Kent Place Boulevard in a nine-unit apartment building. The fire started in the building's attic.

Q: When did the Summit fire occur?
A: The fire was reported at approximately 6:20 p.m. Thursday evening during a severe thunderstorm.

Q: What caused the fire?
A: The cause remains under investigation. Residents reported seeing lightning strike the chimney and debris ejected from it, suggesting lightning strike as likely cause.

Q: How many firefighters responded?
A: Dozens of firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire.

Q: How quickly did firefighters arrive?
A: Firefighters arrived at the scene within four minutes of the alarm.

Q: Were there any injuries?
A: No injuries were reported.

Q: Were residents evacuated?
A: Yes. All residents from the nine-unit building were safely evacuated. Firefighters conducted a primary search to confirm all occupants had escaped.

Q: Can residents return to their homes?
A: Residents were not permitted to return Thursday night. The Summit Department of Buildings must determine the structure is safe to occupy before re-entry is authorized.

Q: What was the weather during the fire?
A: Severe thunderstorms moved through the region Thursday evening, producing lightning and multiple emergency calls throughout Summit.

Q: What did firefighters do to contain the fire?
A: Crews opened walls and ceilings and blew out windows to reach flames in the attic and prevent fire spread.