36 fire departments arrived in Downtown Bound Brook on the evening of January 12, 2020, after 8:00 p.m. The concrete structures are what’s left of the Meridia II Downtown Apartment Complex which were set to open November 2020.

This article was authored by Rachel Appleton, Staff Writer

Bound Brook, NJ—On January 14th, Somerset County and Bound Brook township officials announced that a town resident, Juan H. Padilla, 28, had been arrested and charged with 2nd-degree Aggravated Arson and 3rd-degree Hindering Investigation Apprehension/False Information in relation to the 7-alarm blaze that took place on the evening of January 12, 2020.

On the blustery evening at approximately 7:53 p.m., the Bound Brook Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting a fire at the Meridia II Downtown construction site which was set to open November, 2020. Padilla was seen walking in the area near the complex several times leading up to the fire, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson announced in a press release.

The news of the destructive blaze spread as quickly as the flames engulfed multiple properties hastened by the high winds. 36 fire departments spanning Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer and Middlesex counties worked with Emergency Management Center and the New Jersey State Forestry Service for more than 6 hours to put the fire out. Residents watched the flames and felt the heat from blocks away.

“I was watching the Green Bay Packer football game on Sunday night, when I received a text alert indicating there was a structure fire Downtown,” said Robert Fazen, Mayor of Bound Brook. “By the time I was able to drive and then walk to the site, the Meridia II Downtown building had burned and collapsed down to the top of the concrete parking deck foundation.

By 9:00 p.m., the fire had spread to the Brook Apartment building. Since the Meridia II structure was not complete, the fire spread quickly, said Brad Galeta, Bound Brook Councilman.

The Manville Fire Department #1 on the scene of the blaze.

Locals were shocked at the size of the fire. “I have lived in Bound Brook for over 65 years and I have never seen a fire as visually astounding and alarming as this one,” said Jim Beatty, Bound Brook resident, and columnist for Bound Brook Chronicle. “It was almost as if it were a roaring fireplace. It’s amazing that the damage was confined to as small of an area and that nobody was killed.”

Beatty is right. With just one ankle injury, the fire departments and local volunteers prevented what could have been a more comprehensive disaster.

On the morning after, the fire was still smoldering. Setting up for coverage, media companies appeared on the streets capturing photos and drone footage of the mess. Mayor Fazen addressed the press and residents with a positive message. Channeling his town pride and resilient nature, Fazen told the town: “We will rebuild!”

Even one former Bound Brook resident tuned into the shocking news from hundreds of miles away. While seeing the videos and photos of the blaze, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in the wake of this unfortunate event.

“I sat at my computer in North Carolina and was immersed with that feeling of ‘oh not again,’ but as the next day went on, I heard the usual phrases, ‘We will come back stronger than ever,’ ‘We will persevere’, and you know- it will, it just will cause it always does,” said Kim Slater-Griffin, North Carolina resident and former Bound Brook resident.

Minus slowing down the development of the Meridia II Apartment complex, Bound Brook Councilman Abel Gomez sees no other slow-down of progress.

“This fire is much smaller than other disasters that have effected Bound Brook,” Gomez said.

The borough has been through floods which have affected hundreds of more Bound Brook residents, he explained in a phone interview. This fire was an isolated incident that affected a few properties– floods in town have effected up to 500 properties and a lot more residents, Gomez noted.

Slater-Griffin agrees. “This town was settled in 1681 and the floodwaters have hit this town upside down, inside out, backward and forwards. But the thing is, Bound Brook always comes back…always,” she said.

Airing on the edge of optimism, Councilman Galeta added that Bound Brook is a strong community that will come together and rebuild. And when it comes to rebuilding, the Meridia II project could face a lengthy setback. It’ll start with demolition of the existing charred structure and the Mayor estimates that it will take one year for these projects to be recreated and operational.

How you can Help

If interested in getting involved with community safety, the Bound Brook Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Bound Brook OEM are looking for volunteers to help families who have been displaced as a result of the fire. Further, the New Jersey Red Cross is providing emergency assistance, and the Somerset County Department of Social Services is arranging temporary housing for displaced families, but there are more ways you can help, adds Mayor Fazen.

Further, the Salvation Army of Bound Brook (108 Hamilton St.) is collecting clothing, blankets, personal care items, school supplies, toys and cleaning products to be distributed to displaced families. Questions about donations can be directed to Alan Emanuel Porchetti at (732) 748-1146.

The Christian Center of Somerset (11 W. 2nd St.) is also distributing goods to displaced residents. They are currently collecting food, clothing and hygiene items. The church is open for drop-offs at the following times: Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The investigation into the Padilla case is still ongoing. If you have any information related to the incident, please contact Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Bound Brook Police Department at (732) 356-0800 or make a report via the STOPit app.