A three-alarm fire destroyed Tirpok Cleaners' Flemington store on May 4, 2017. Watch video
FLEMINGTON - A three-alarm fire destroyed Tirpok Cleaners' borough store on Thursday.
The fire at the store on Reaville Avenue was reported at 7 p.m. and took about three hours to bring under control, according to those at the scene. Firefighters were back early this morning after the fire rekindled.
Firefighters from the borough and Raritan Township were joined by a number of other fire departments from as far as Warren and Mercer counties and Bucks County in Pennsylvania.
Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles, and Route 202 south was closed, as was the Route 202-31 Circle, borough police reported.
The North and South County Tender Task Force also responded and established a fill site at the Raritan Township Municipal Complex, those at the scene reported. Two sets of tankers ferried water to fill sites set up in the Boston Market parking lot, located next to Tirpok Cleaners. A pair of towers fought the fire from above.
The building housing Central Wine Merchants, located next door to the cleaners, was also damaged, but the extent was not known as of early Friday morning. The cleaners is located in a triangle of land bordered by the circle and Route 202, Route 12 and Reaville Avenue in one of the busiest parts of Hunterdon County.
Businesses within this compact area include Chick-fil-A, the Country Griddle, NAPA Auto Parts of Flemington, Advance Auto Parts and the Flemington-Raritan Rescue Squad. The Hunterdon Shopping Center is located on the other side of Reaville Avenue.
Firefighters battle 2-alarm blaze at N.J. landscaping company
The squad had previously announced plans to move its building to a larger location on Royal Road in Raritan Township.
This is the second large fire in recent months in the Flemington-Raritan area. In March, firefighters battled a two-alarm fire at J&J Landscaping Company and Garden Center located off Route 31 in the township. The business remains open and has plans to rebuild the garden center.
The borough issued a statement late Thursday on the fire.
"Thanks to the hard work of our first responders from around the county, the fire is contained and should be fully extinguished within the next couple of hours," it read. "The firemen were able to keep neighboring buildings safe. We have crews on site monitoring the air quality around the area and no danger has been reported.
"We not only thank our first responders but also the local restaurants who donated food and water and the Salvation Army for serving coffee and food."
The borough offered its "condolences to the Tirpok family who has served our community so well for so many years. You have our support during this difficult time," adding "This is a great community and that was truly evident tonight."
The borough also said the Flemington Community Partnership has offered its support to the Tirpok family.
Tirpok has four locations - Flemington, Lebanon Borough, Clinton and Greenwich. The company started in 1936 with a shoe-shine stand on Main Street in the borough, according to its website. The borough shop was built in 1948 and was its main location.
Borough officials asked residents to conserve water while the blaze was being fought, noting the water department was "monitoring all wells and ensuring the fire department have ample pressure to fight this fire."
The department also recommended borough residents run the cold water faucet in their bathtub or shower tub to clear any cloudy water caused by the flow of water in the mains stirring up sediments. Those with questions can contact the water department at 908-782-8840.