The ruling has triggered a class action lawsuit by the now-homeless tenants of the Avalon at Edgewater.
The blaze at the Avalon broke out on Wednesday evening and took more than 15 hours to contain. Almost half of the 408 apartment units were destroyed and over 1,000 people were made homeless. This despite the fact that apartments in New Jersey, like New York city apartments, have to adhere to strict fire standards.
“There was nothing suspicious about it, and we have complete verification, and there’s no doubt about it,” said Edgewater Police Chief William Skidmore told NBC news. “It’s just a tragic accident.”
Accident or not, a civil lawsuit was filed in Bergen County Superior Court on Monday that claims hundreds of tenants of the Avalon complex and residents of neighboring homes suffered economic losses which were caused by the direct actions of AvalonBay, the Maryland-based real estate firm that built and managed the complex.
“At this point we don’t have a specific amount in damages, but that will come out as the case proceeds,” Bruce Greenberg an attorney with Lite Depalma Greenberg told NJ Advance Media. “The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial.”
Officials said that two maintenance workers triggered the blaze while working on the plumbing behind a wall with a blowtorch. The workers delayed calling 911 for 15 minutes. Officials have said the lightweight construction of the complex fueled the flames and made it difficult to fight the blaze.
Eventually, over 500 emergency responders from 35 towns answered the call. Two firefighters were injured as were two civilians. All of the injuries were minor.
“With a fire of this scope and size, to have no loss of life and so many people displaced, we actually feel fortunate, said Michael McPartland, mayor of Edgewater, to Claims Journal. “I’m just so proud of everyone who was involved here. In a terrible tragedy, what I see coming out of it is the people of Edgewater coming together as a prideful town that we always have been.”
