East Franklin Fire Dept Somerset NJ…….Somerville NJ June 4th 2024 We were dispatched to be the RIC team on the 2nd alarm box of a fire in 4 story mixed use building commercial on the first floor and residential above fire was in the basement of a hookah lounge when we arrived command advised us to go inside and get a hole in the floor and get a line on the fire the initial crews made basement but backed out as we were approaching the rear of the hookah lounge i felt a soft spot in the floor as i was advising the rest of my crew of the soft spot i fell through the floor almost went to the basement but luckily I was able to lunge forward and be held up from my waist up as my crew pulled me out of the hole we evacuated as soon as i was able to get out and fire and smoke came up out of that hole later we found out it was set on fire by the owner of the establishment.
LESSONS LEARNED:
I learned that tile flooring is very hard to sound out and trust unless you break the tile and check beneath it….and thank god for my training and my crew’s training to get me out of that situation very fast
A 24-year-old man intentionally started a fire in the basement of a Somerville restaurant earlier this year that spread to neighboring businesses and apartments, injuring four firefighters, authorities said.
Amr A. Khodeer, of Somerville, is charged with two counts of aggravated arson, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.
Khodeer had previously been charged with theft of a motor vehicle after he fled the June 4 fire in a construction vehicle. Khodeer later crashed into two parked vehicles and a buillding in Bridgewater before being arrested.
Khodeer ignited the blaze in the basement of Mediterranean restaurant King Tut on West Main Street at about 2 p.m. on June 4, officials said. The fire damaged five businesses and 18 apartments.
He was seen leaving the basement of the apartment and had “fresh burns” on his body when he was taken into custody, the prosecutor’s office said.
A lengthy investigation determined Khodeer purposely started the fire. He is being held at the Morris County jail.
One Somerville police officer and four firefighters were treated for minor injuries.
Attorney information for Khodeer wasn’t immediately available.
