There have been at least 14 multiple-alarm fires in in New Jersey over the past year that have damaged or destroyed landmark businesses, buildings, churches and restaurants. Watch video
There have been at least 14 multiple-alarm fires in New Jersey over the past year that have damaged or destroyed landmark businesses, buildings, churches and restaurants.
The iconic Hillcrest Tavern and Coach Room in Bridgeton, which dates to 1782, was destroyed in a January fire. The historic Music Hall building in Clinton burned to the ground in May, and a suspicious fire in March at the Jerzeez Diner in Vernon left the structure in ruins and resulted in its co-owner being charged with arson and insurance fraud.
One of the biggest fires occurred in February in Hillsborough, where an inferno engulfed a warehouse complex and kept firefighters busy for nearly three days. There was also a massive blaze in Keyport in April that wiped out five businesses and three buildings in the borough's waterfront business district.
Fire destroys popular 50's themed diner
Here is a list of the known multiple-alarm fires that damaged or destroyed popular businesses, buildings, churches and restaurants in New Jersey over the past year. Only the blaze at the Jerzeez Diner was deemed suspicious. No one died in any of the fires.
October 2015
Oct. 22 - Monroe - Ternay's Shop in the Wood, an antique furniture store that had been at its Glassboro Road for more than 40 years, was left in ruins.
Oct. 23 - New Brunswick - The Poile Zedek synagogue, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was heavily damaged.
November 2015
Nov. 10 - Paterson - The Paterson Armory, a city landmark since 1896, was demolished after a seven-alarm fire gutted its interior.
January 2016
Jan. 18 - Bridgeton - A blaze burned down the iconic Hillcrest Tavern and Coach Room, part of which dated to 1782 as a stagecoach route from Trenton to Cape May.
Jan. 19 - Bayonne - The Castle Clock and Gift Shop, an antique clock store located in the city for more than three decades, was destroyed.
February 2016
Feb. 6 - Millville - The Gil Bear's Tavern,which closed in 2013, burned down in a fire that kept firefighters on the scene for nine hours.
Feb. 11 - Hillsborough - A massive fire raced through the Veterans Industrial Park warehouse complex. The blaze burned for almost two days.
March 2016
March 8 - Vernon - A suspicious 4 a.m. blaze destroyed the Jerzeez Diner in Vernon. Co-owner Tina Dinkos was later charged with arson.
April 2016
April 8 - Keyport - Eight firefighters were hurt when flames ripped through the borough business district, destroying five businesses and three buildings.
April 13 - Millville - High winds knocked a tree onto power lines going into the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, sparking a blaze.
May 2016
May 3 - Delaware Twp. - The Rosemont Cafe sustained heavy damage. The owners have vowed to rebuild.
May 15 - Clinton - The Music Hall building, which dates to 1881 and was renamed Clinton Center, was reduced to ashes after a blaze.
May 24 - Freehold - JB's Diner, a popular 50s theme eatery, burned down. Owner Cupertino Herrera said he plans to rebuild.
July 2016
July 31 - Franklin Twp. (Gloucester County) - A fire ripped through Colucci Lumber Company on Delsea Drive in the Malaga section of the township.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.