Buildings lightweight structure, legal and common, adds fuel to raging Avalon fire

January 22, 2015, 6:58 PM Last updated: Thursday, January 22, 2015, 10:40 PM

The type of construction firefighters faced while battling a massive blaze at an Edgewater apartment complex this week is common in New Jersey and elsewhere, and one that many say raises challenges and concerns because of the potential for collapse and for flames to travel swiftly.

So-called lightweight wood construction in multistory buildings is a longstanding issue in the firefighting community a cheaper, faster and legal style of building that some have been saying for years needs better checks and balances.

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Photos: 5-alarm blaze destroys Edgewater apartments

Officials said the destroyed Edgewater building had lightweight construction with a truss style of roof framing. The owners of the building, AvalonBay Communities, said the building was built according to code.

Its all over the state of New Jersey. Its toothpick construction. You can see fires all over the county; once they get started its very difficult or impossible to stop, said Charles Aughenbaugh, past president of New Jersey Deputy Fire Chiefs Association, adding that firefighters did a terrific job getting people out and ultimately saving all lives.

David Kurasz, executive director of the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, said the fact that there were no fatalities is a miracle, given the magnitude of the fire.

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Buildings lightweight structure, legal and common, adds fuel to raging Avalon fire