A three-alarm fire on Friday displaced residents from six apartments, and dealt a severe blow to an immigrant couple struggling through the pandemic to sustain Lin’s Palace, the restaurant they created nearly 40 years ago.
The good news: Nimble action by Morristown firefighters quelled the morning blaze before it could damage other businesses on Speedwell Avenue.
And a Yorkie and two turtles owe their lives to a fireman who risked his.
Dan Whitehead said his fellow firefighters were the real stars. Yet he had to admit, he may have outdone his dad, granddad and uncle, all retired firemen. While they performed their share of heroics over the years, “I don’t think they ever rescued a turtle,” Whitehead said.
This chain of events began, fire officials believe, with an untended stove in a second-floor apartment above the restaurant.
Marty Lin said his uncle, Harry Lin, was preparing the restaurant for the day’s takeout service when he “smelled something weird.” Alarms sounded. Harry scrambled upstairs, desperate to save the American Dream of Marty’s parents, John and Alice Lin.
The couple opened the restaurant in 1983, seven years after John emigrated from Taiwan. He started in Morristown by washing dishes at the former New York Tea Garden, and sold hot dogs from a stand near the historic Morristown Green. Alice joined him from Taiwan in 1981, their son said.
Uncle Harry’s fire extinguisher was no match for the flames on Friday.
When the Morristown Fire Bureau responded to 40 Speedwell at 11:08 a.m., the fire was spreading from a second-story kitchen into the walls, heading for the top floor and attic, said Fire Chief Robert Flanagan.
No tenants were present in the six apartments, the chief said. But firemen did not know that at the time.
Whitehead charged to the third floor, searching for people. He came to an apartment directly above the unit that was burning.
“It was pretty well smoked out,” he said.
Forcing through the door, he made his way to a bedroom.
“I was feeling around. I felt the dog. I bumped him and he was skittish, going back and forth. I was able to grab him and get him out of there.”
After whisking the Yorkie outside to Fire Marshal Michael Geary, Whitehead raced back upstairs for a second search–standard procedure.
Fellow Firefighters Christian Mussmer and Tom Dennehy opened windows and a roof shaft, to vent smoke and heat, while their colleague Jesus Castano trained a hose on the flames.
Outside, Firefight Omar White rushed heavy ladders to the windows–in case anyone had to bail out–and he made sure hoses had enough pressure.
Back inside, Whitehead made another discovery in the same apartment. On the floor was a plastic tote… containing a pair of turtles. He saved them, too.
Within about 40 minutes, the bureau knocked down a fire that could have taken out a block of businesses.
“The operation today was textbook. This speaks to the training we do every day,” said Whitehead, 35, who joined the bureau in 2018. His comrades were the heroes, he insisted. “What they did was truly remarkable.”
That opinion was endorsed next door at the Horseshoe Tavern, where, aside from a faint whiff of smoke, there was no hint of the catastrophe the establishment narrowly avoided.
“They were great,” bartender Andy Brillon said of the firemen. “I tried to offer them beers, but they were working. They didn’t even want water.”
“I don’t want to sound biased,” Chief Flanagan said. “But we’re very quick, we’re very good.”
Morris Township, Morris Plains and Madison fire departments provided backup. Atlantic Health ambulances also responded.
The Yorkie and turtles were reunited with their grateful owner. Where they and the other tenants land next, the Red Cross was sorting out on Friday afternoon. Some residents have lived upstairs for a decade, Marty Lin said.
As for Lin’s Palace, Marty said his parents hope to reopen in about a month. The restaurant and neighboring Sakura Spa both sustained water damage, Marty said. As owners of their building, the Lins, now in their early 70s, also are faced with repairing the heavily damaged apartments.
Times are tough. Takeout orders barely have kept the Lins afloat during the COVID lockdowns, Marty said.
“It’s crazy. I’m still trying to absorb this all…my parents never encountered this, ever,” he said. “My mom was stressed out.”
Morristown’s bravest hope one day to celebrate Friday’s accomplishments properly. With Taiwanese cuisine.
The night before the fire, Whitehead recounted, the guys were sitting around the firehouse table. “And one of our captains said, ‘I’ve heard really good things about Lin’s. We should eat there soon.’
“Apparently, we couldn’t eat there soon enough.”
Another reason Morristown is so special. Our police and firemen keep it a safe place to live for everyone.
Great job to the fireman . Bless them