Nutley Firefighters Battle Blaze and Blizzard

Firefighters responded to the scene of a blazing fire early Tuesday morning in the midst of blizzard conditions and freezing temperatures.

The alarm came in around 3:19 am with reports of a house fire in a three-family home at 12 Brown Street. The fire started on the second floor and quickly spread throughout the structure.

Despite the freezing temperatures and battling elements, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire in approximately 90 minutes.

According to NorthJersey.com, Fire Lieutenant Dave Hollywood commended the work of his fellow firefighters. “The guys really worked hard,” Hollywood, said. “Not only did they save the house next to it that was starting to get flame and heat, [but] the building itself probably is not a total loss, as bad as the fire was and stubborn,” Hollywood said.

The house next to the blaze almost caught fire when the fire started melting the siding. While firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze and save the home next door, the residents of 12 Brown Street were evacuated to a nearby hotel, firefghters said.

NorthJersey.com reports Nutley engines 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Ladder 1 responded, along with a Montclair ladder and Bloomfield engine. Hollywood said that a Newark cascade truck assisted filling air bottles, when the Nutley department ran out of them.

All nine residents have been treated for injuries. All pets were accounted for. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Photo// Scott Wentworth