BELLEVILLE, NJ – MAY 8, 2026 – Gov. Mikie Sherrill visited Belleville on Thursday evening to survey the damage wrought by the 12-alarm fire that  reduced a city block to rubble and ash. What she found was a community that has banded together in the face of what many say is the biggest fire in township history.

A somber mood and the acrid odor of smoldering debris filled the air as Sherrill comforted Belleville’s first responders who were still weary from battling the blaze and spoke to heartbroken entrepreneurs who watched their businesses go up in flames.

Stepping over puddles left behind by firehoses, Sherrill was led on a brief tour of this industrial section-turned-burnt-out block by Mayor Michael Melham.

As she looked at the charred husk of the building at 357 Cortland Ave. – the last structure standing, and barely at that – Melham told her of the heroic efforts of the 70-member Belleville Fire Department and other township first responders who reacted quickly to save lives and property.

On the east side of the building, the brick exterior had crumbled in several sections, revealing a tangle of twisted metal and dangling wiring.

Sherrill seemed to struggle to find the right words to describe the devastation.

“It’s just … I mean .. you just look at it – it’s a horrible, horrible fire that took place,” she said. “To see that nobody was hurt and to have the men and women who were working around the clock to make sure that happened, it just shows you once again, which I keep pointing out here in the state, that we have the best public servants in the nation, the best firefighters.

“And, I think that’s why you see that despite the 12- or 14-alarm fire that just took place right here, everyone was safe at the end of the day,” Sherrill added.

Along the brief tour, Melham and Sherrill toured the Belleville Police Department’s sprawling Mobile Command Center.

The mayor also pointed out another command unit established up the block from the burning warehouses. Under a makeshift awning, this is where emergency responders from Belleville and nearby towns catch their breath, peel their gear off and have cold water.

In fact, Belleville Fire Chief John Olivieri said this was the spot residents would come to with bags of food, cases of bottled water and just wishes of gratitude since the inferno erupted at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

“The residents’ outpouring of generosity, as well as the brave work of firefighters from many other towns, it all meant a lot to our guys,” Chief Olivieri said. “A lot of our guys worked some long hours. We were on this fire round the clock for days. What the residents did, just by coming by with water, with food, it really lifted their spirits during an extraordinarily challenging time.” He noted two firefighters sustained minor injuries while battling the blaze.

The Belleville Fire Department is monitoring the remains of 357 Cortland Ave. to make sure all the hotspots had been extinguished. Only then will residents across the street be allowed to return to their homes, Olivieri said.

Two nearby homes, including a four-family dwelling, were also destroyed when embers from the burning warehouse ignited them.

The Belleville Public Schools was forced to close its schools’ doors as several local roadways were closed to traffic. Also, water pressure in the schools became low as firefighters continued to douse the fire.

Erick Alfonso, superintendent of schools, said the district commenced remote learning on Thursday. He said an assessment will be made over the weekend to determine if schools could reopen Monday.

Melham said he was thankful that Sherrill came to Belleville to see the devastation, and to personally thank the town’s first responders.

After Melham said that Belleville was going to need some help, one reporter asked him what he’s asked the state for.

“We haven’t made a formal request, yet, but obviously, looking around here, there’s a financial impact that’s going to happen,” he responded “We’re still  trying to quantify the numbers, but we’re talking about several million dollars that Belleville has to pay to clean this up.” Sherrill said she would have a better understanding of what the needs are and what the opportunities are for grant money and support from different entities once a final assessment is made.

As Sherrill left, she one last time walked past the smoldering warehouses – a calamity that brought a close-knit community even closer.

“It was heart-warming to see the community rally around our first responders,” said Vinny Cozzarelli, the Councilman representing the Third Ward, where  the fire occurred. “Some people would just go down to the firehouse to check on the firefighters and to offer them support. That’s what Belleville  is all about.”

Photo 2 caption: Gov. Mikie Sherrill speaking Thursday with some of the entrepreneurs who watched their businesses go up in flames during this week's 12-alarm fire.