By ALISA DORNFEST
Herald & News

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS - A day after a small aircraft plunged into a residential neighborhood, killing four and injuring three, the borough suffered another disaster when fire destroyed the municipal complex late Friday.

In less than 30 hours, emergency personnel accustomed to rescuing others raced about saving their own property. No one was injured in the swift-moving blaze that sent firefighters and police fleeing from their headquarters in the burning building and disbelieving off-duty personnel racing to the scene.

"We were just finally getting sleep from the plane crash (when the phone rang)," said Police Chief Michael Colaneri. "I thought it was a dream when they said it was a fire. I never dreamed it was so severe."

Firefighters responded to two minor calls Friday night - a motor vehicle accident and what was reported as a fire, but turned out to be a false alarm, officials said. As they regrouped in the firehouse to finish debriefing following Thursday's plane crash, Capt. Al Cirelli glanced out the window around 11 p.m.

Flames shooting from a second-story courtroom window were the real thing. Grabbing a radio, he quickly alerted police.

"It made the meeting go longer than it normally would," Fire Chief Vincent Monahan said, referring to the service calls. "If we weren't here, it would have taken another five or 10 minutes to respond. By then we may not have had any equipment left."

Other than seven of the borough's 47 volunteer firefighters and a handful of police, the municipal building was empty. All escaped without injury and managed to save police cars and fire apparatus.

Before evacuating the law enforcement section of the Hamilton Avenue complex, Patrolman James Krisinski requested assistance from neighboring communities and forwarded calls to the Bergen County Police and Carlstadt. Grabbing patrol car keys, he and other officers raced to move cruisers and unmarked cars to safety down the street. Lt. Robert Kroncke ran back inside to grab handheld radios and records used in daily operations.

Firefighters from 19 communities including Wood-Ridge, Carlstadt, Wallington and Little Ferry had the blaze - which was propelled by whipping winds - under control by 4 a.m.

Arson investigators from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office sifted though the charred remains of the structure that houses police and fire departments, along with courtrooms and administrative offices. They determined the fire began in a second-floor electrical outlet under a desk shared by the mayor and municipal judge, Monahan said.

News of the fire spread through the community, prompting the arrival of municipal employees who salvaged what they could. Borough Administrator Mike Kronyak emerged from the wreckage, his arms laden with files. Miraculously, officials said, none of the technological systems in the tax and finance offices was destroyed. Other records were saved on microfiche and floppy disks.

"All the key computers are waterlogged, but saved," said Mayor William Torre. "We're survivors, and we're back on the ground running."

County police set up a mobile command post in the street from which calls are being dispatched. Borough officials are organizing trailers to use as makeshift offices while relocating. Fire engines blocked the road as officials searched for garages to house them.

Council meetings will be held in the Boulevard's Masonic Temple, where new police officers will be sworn in next week.

"It's pretty interesting to have a fire in a firehouse. It's one of those rare events when the stars align," said Brian Murphy, who moved to the borough from Jersey City last year. "I tried to get away from all the action, and now all the action is here.

That action took its toll on rescue personnel. Between working through the night after a plane crashed in a yard killing all four passengers and injuring three firefighters who tried to save them, including one from Hasbrouck Heights, and having their home away from home destroyed, it was an emotional scene.

Tears streamed from the eyes of young firefighters who stood on the lawn in full regalia Saturday assessing the damage.

"They've been through things most people never hope to see," Monahan said, describing discovering the charred bodies of the aircraft's passengers under a child's swing set followed by the loss of the fire station. "This is our house. It's our heart and soul."

Most fire department photos and memorabilia were recovered, Monahan said, including a set of pewter horns used by their predecessors. Flames destroyed walls and furniture. Memories survived.