Fire and smoke poured out of a four story
building on First Street and Bloomfield in Hoboken early Monday morning and the
destruction included in the extensive damage was the complete gutting of the venerable
McSwiggan's bar, whose inside was completely blackened and burned in a devastating toll to
the architecture.
No one was hurt in the three-alarm blaze that Hoboken
firefighters had spent over 10 hours trying to completely extinguish (a visit to the area
showed smoke still coming from the top floors as of noon Monday). All corners of 1st and
Bloomfield leading to 1st and Bloomfield have been closed.
The fire was so stubborn that the smell of smoke reached could be
detected in surrounding towns while firefighters--some of whom were treated for minor
smoke inhalation--fought the blaze that started approximately 1:00 AM Monday morning.
There is no word yet on the cause of the fire, according to investigators.
First Helmer's in 2006, now McSwiggan's...in the latest fire to destroy one of Hoboken's
favorite hangouts. For some Hoboken residents, the hope is that like the German restaurant
and bar, McSwiggan's can rebuild itself to its former glory once again.
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The fire was so stubborn that the smell of smoke reached could be
detected in surrounding towns while firefighters--some of whom were treated for minor
smoke inhalation--fought the blaze that started approximately 1:00 AM Monday morning.