On December 14, the Lodi Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a fire in the attic of the American Legion building located at 41 Union Street. Police officers were the first to arrive on scene and reported a heavy smoke condition emitting from the attic area of the building. The call was then "re-toned" as a "working fire".

Lodi's fire chief transmitted a second alarm on arrival and wanted all 2nd alarm companies to report to the scene. Companies tried attempting an interior attack but were unable to proceed into the building due to heavy fire volume and the risk of collapse. It was then that command pulled everyone out of the building and switched from an interior to an exterior attack.

Numerous mutual aid towns operated at this scene, including Hasbrouck Heights, Wallington, Little Ferry and Wood-Ridge.

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