Sunday, October 16, 2016

MORE DETAILS ON SATURDAY NIGHT HOUSE FIRE

Maplewood Fire officials released more information about the house fire on Ostwood Terrace Saturday night, noting it was a three-alarm blaze that required aid from 11 other towns.

There is still no cause of the fire, but it is believed to have started in a first-floor bedroom. As we reported last night, no injuries were sustained and all occupants of the home were able to escape.

Mayor Vic Deluca was also on scene helping residents who received aid from police, fire and The Red Cross.

See photos and video of the fire HERE.

See the entire fire department update below:

On Saturday, October 15 at 1814 hours, the Maplewood Fire Department was dispatched to a reported fire at 2077 Ostwood Terr. Engine 32, responding from a fire station less than one mile away, reported a large column of black smoke as they were leaving. Upon arrival, they found heavy fire on the first floor in the rear of the home extending to the second floor and impinging on the houses on either side. 

All occupants were reported to be out of the house and accounted for. Due to the heavy volume of fire, a second alarm was transmitted upon arrival, bringing in mutual aid companies from Irvington, Millburn, South Orange and Union Fire Departments. An aggressive fire attack by first-arriving companies prevented the fire from extending to the adjacent homes, although there was damage sustained to the siding and windows of both.

The fire extended through the second floor and roof, prompting the incident commander to order a third alarm, bringing in companies from West Orange, East Orange and Bloomfield Fire Departments. An air unit was special called from Newark Fire Department to refill air bottles at the scene. Additional fire departments from Belleville, Montclair and Cedar Grove provided coverage for the town during the incident. The fire was declared under control at 1953 hours. 

The home was deemed uninhabitable and the Red Cross was obtaining temporary housing for the two families displaced by the fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries to either the occupants or the firefighters who battled the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it appears to have started in a first-floor bedroom.

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