| |
FIVE HURT BATTLING WESTWOOD
HOUSE FIRE
Bergen Record
By MICHAEL S. JAMES, Staff Writer
Date: 02-19-1996, Monday
WESTWOOD -- Five firefighters were injured when they slipped on ice
while battling a blaze that destroyed a two-family home early Sunday, a
Fire Department spokesman said.
The fire, which took almost four hours to extinguish, left one family
homeless and forced a tenant to move in with relatives, but caused no
injuries to residents, Westwood Firefighter Kevin Brennan said.
Residents were sleeping in the living room when a neighbor saw the fire in
the attached garage about 2:40 a.m. The neighbor called the Fire
Department, then ran to the house and banged on the front door, Brennan
said.
Four of the injured firefighters were treated at the scene. One
firefighter with a knee injury was treated at Pascack Valley Hospital and
released, Brennan said.
The home at 43 Ash St. may need to be demolished, Brennan said. A building
inspector will make the determination this week.
A car and a van parked near the garage also were destroyed, officials
said. A neighboring house was damaged by the heat of the blaze.
Officials from the Bergen County Arson Squad are investigating the fire
because of its severity, Westwood police Sgt. Frank Durante said.
In all, 130 firefighters from five towns fought the fire and helped staff
the Westwood fire station, Brennan said.
"We were hampered by very cold temperatures," Brennan said. "Between the
deep snow and the extreme cold, it made it very difficult for everybody."
|
