Palisades Courthouse, Police HQ Need Renovating Following Fire

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — An electrical problem in the chief's office of the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department caused the fire that severely damaged the building Wednesday.

Authorities do not consider the fire to be suspicious, said Lt. Jock Watkins Jr. They are continuing to assess the damage.

The department and other parts of the building will have to be renovated following a fire there Wednesday.

There is significant fire, smoke, and heat damaged to one third of the Alpine building, which also houses the Palisades Interstate Parkway Commission, Watkins said.

The Palisades Interstate Park Municipal Court is closed until authorities deem the building safe to be occupied. Plans are being developed to resume court operations at a temporary location that will be announced soon.

The police department is continuing to provide full police and emergency services to the Palisades Interstate Park. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the Public Operations Center provided mobile command trucks for temporary office space, along with radio, phone, and internet access.

The fire was initially reported at 11:45 a.m. and was brought under control at about 1:20 p.m., Watkins said.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com