Suspicious Fires Now Number Three

A newspaper report of two early-morning fires Sunday led me to walk over to Madison and Central avenues to see the aftermath, as the sites were very close to a devastating Feb. 10 fire on West Second Street.

The Star-Ledger had reported that 30 people were displaced and multiple fire companies had responded to the Sunday fires, but there was nothing to see from the street on Sunday afternoon. The Courier News later reported that one fire was in the basement of an apartment building and the other was in a house. According to that report, the proximity of two fires breaking out within 15 minutes was deemed suspicious.

As I got to the West Second Street site, I met Al and Venus Hannah. Venus Hannah said the family, city residents since 1974, lost everything in the Feb. 10 fire, including personal documents. She said the family received emergency relief at the time, but members are now going "from hotel to hotel" as the family is attempting to sort out a dispute over ownership of the property, which was demolished.

The Hannahs previously lost the home due to owing back taxes, which Venus Hannah said were then paid back in full, but she said the city is not acknowledging the family's claim to the property. The matter is now in litigation, she said.

Whatever the case, the Hannahs are appealing for help from the community. Venus Hannah said donations may be sent to the family at 430-432 West Second St., Plainfield NJ 07060 and she will receive the mail from the post office.

The Feb. 10 fire was investigated by the Union County Arson Squad and the two new ones are also being investigated as well, according to the Courier News report. All were within a three-block section of the West End.

--Bernice