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View Larger Map Jersey City firefighters battle fire in coal hopper 50 feet below ground at PSE&G plant off West Side Avenue, and hot weather doesn't help Tuesday, July 06, 2010 By MELISSA HAYES JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Jersey City firefighters battled a stubborn blaze 50 feet below ground for three hours yesterday at the PSE&G Hudson Generating Plant. Fire Director Armando Roman said firefighters were called to the plant off West Side Avenue near Van Keuren Avenue at 12:49 p.m. and had the fire under control by 1:40 p.m. but didn't leave until about 3:45 p.m. The fire broke out in a coal hopper, an underground conveyor belt that transfers coal, Roman said. The cause is still under investigation. Because the fire was underground and involved a large quantity of coal it was difficult to extinguish, Roman said. And temperatures breaking the 100-degree mark didn't help, he added. Firefighters also answered two holiday-related calls Sunday. Firefighters were called to 171 Delaware Ave. at 10:22 p.m. after a firecracker ignited a curtain on the first floor of the home. Firefighters quickly extinguished the small fire in the two-story building, Roman said. Moments later, at 10:26 p.m., firefighters were called to 193 Fairview Ave. for a mattress fire on a roof, which they quickly put out. It was unclear why the mattress was on the roof of the five-story brick building or how it ignited, Roman said.