Overview

• The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. Friday at the century-old Congregation Beth El building on Montross Avenue and caused the wooden structure to collapse within an hour.
• Rabbi Yitzchok Lerman and his family of six escaped the blaze unharmed and no serious injuries were reported among congregants or first responders.
• Firefighters from Rutherford and surrounding towns battled intense flames, downed live wires and falling embers to extinguish the main blaze and control remaining hotspots by morning.
• Authorities have opened an investigation into the fire’s origin and say there is currently no evidence of suspicious activity or links to the 2012 Molotov cocktail attack on the same site.
• Community leaders are now assessing structural damage and launching plans to hold services outdoors and rebuild the historic worship complex.