Fire Damages Lexington Drive Home

A fire that started in a bathroom Wednesday night caused damage to a home on Lexington Drive.  The homeowner was taken to St. Barnabas Medical Center to be treated for a burn to her hand and smoke inhalation.

Fire Chief Christopher Mullin said the fire started in a first floor bathroom in the rear of the house a little after 1:30 a.m..  The fire was raging when the department's four engines, ladder truck, rescue truck and command vehicles arrived on the scene.

"There were flames coming out of the window," said Mullin.  "But it looked worse than it was."  

Crews had the fire under control in about 15 to 20 minutes, Mullin said, but it was still intense work.  In addition to the homeowner being on-site, so were her two daughters and mother.  Also in the house were two cats and a dog.

One daughter escaped the house by climbing out onto the garage roof; crews had to evacuate her via ladder.  The other daughter and grandmother exited the house on their own.  Crews were able to rescue the two cats—one of which went into hiding in the tiling in the basement's ceiling. Reports indicate that an animal control officer was also called to the scene.  Millburn's Fire Department also responded to the fire as back-up, as did the Livingston police department.

The fire is currently under investigation.

Mullin commended all the firefighters and crews for their dedicated work and for coming out in the middle of a cold night.

"That's never easy," he said.