Story and photos by Peter Danzo
At just after 17:00 on May 31st, 2015, firefighters from the Ridgefield Park (NJ) Fire Department were dispatched to 18 Highland Place for a report of a house fire; the dispatcher also reported receiving a call for a house fire at 20 Hille Place on the other side of town.
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Companies were directed to both addresses as they called in service. A working fire was found on Highland Place with fire showing from the second floor rear of the 2 1/2-story private dwelling. As companies arrived on Hille Place, they found nothing showing and, upon investigation, no fire. Those companies then respond to the working fire.
Engine 1 arrived and immediately stretched a 1 3/4-inch handline through the front door up the the second floor where the company found heavy smoke, high heat, and heavy fire in the rear room. After an aggressive attack, firefighters were successful in knocking down the fire but it had already extended into the attic.
As conditions deteriorated, the order was given for all members to evacuate the building and outside streams went to work to darken down the fire. After about 15-20 minutes, all exterior lines were shut down and companies re-entered the building to perform overhaul and extinguish the remain pockets of fire.
The home suffered heavy damage to the seond floor and attic. One firefighter suffered minor injuries and the fire is under investigation. Companies from Bogota, Hackensack, and Teaneck assisted at the scene, along with the Ridgefield Park Heavy Rescue and Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
This was one of several fires in the area and occurred as a line of violent thunderstorms went through the region.
More Peter Danzo: ww.padphotography.net
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