A mother and son ran through flames in a hallway to escape a fast-moving fire in an apartment building on the evening of December 16, 2024, in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. They were both transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with severe burn injuries.
Shortly before 6:30 p.m., local volunteer firefighters were toned out to a reported dwelling fire, which was located at 238 Lawton Ave. Chief of Department Greg Yfantis was first to arrive. He reported fire showing from the second-floor windows and struck a second alarm upon arrival. The two residents with burns had fled the the building and were treated by EMS personnel.
The chief said the woman was frying chicken on the second floor when grease apparently ignited in the second-floor kitchen of the multifamily building. The mother unsuccessfully tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher.
Flames consumed the second floor and attic area of the 2 1/2-story, wood-frame structure, sending low, banking smoke over the neighborhood on a rainy evening. A partial collapse occurred along the second floo rear, forcing firefighters to go to a defensive operation. Before it was over, tower ladders were used by Cliffside Park and Englewood; also in use were a Fairview ladder pipe and a deck gun from Cliffside Park Engine 6.
Firefighters protected an apartment house that was separated by a narrow alley on the east side of the fire building. Firefighters used that building’s fire escape to advance hoselines through a second-floor hallway, knocking down flames coming from the fire building. Hidden fire in walls and ceiling sections prolonged the operation as members open up those areas.
Additional mutual aid fire companies that operated at the scene came from Ridgefield, Edgewater, Englewood Cliffs, and Leonia.
The fire was declared under control in about three hours. The Red Cross was assisting displaced residents. In addition, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad members were on the scene for an investigation.
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