Maplewood FD Extinguishes Kitchen Fire on Madison

The Maplewood Fire Department has been busy this week, with fires on Oregon and Hughes streets and now Madison Avenue. The fires were all different in nature, and there were no injuries involved in any. The causes of all three are still under investigation.

According to MFD fire investigator Joseph Alvarez, the Madison Avenue fire this afternoon was a kitchen fire, the cause of which is still undetermined. Alvarez said that the home owners returned home this afternoon, discovered the fire, evacuated their home and called 911. Deputy Chief Lee then arrived and sent out a Signal 11, confirming that there was a working fire and bringing in trucks from South Orange and Millburn to assist. 

Maplewood FD Engine 32 was the first on scene and firefighters made an aggressive interior attack, quickly extinguishing the fire. The Maplewood Police Department and Maplewood Rescue Squad were also on scene.

Alvarez said that the homeowners are going to seek their own shelter (the house is uninhabitable due to smoke damage and the fact that PSE&G has cut the power). However, in such cases where homeowners do not have their own options for shelter, the FD will put them in touch with the American Red Cross and assist them in finding shelter.

A witness on scene remarked that it was fortunate that the residents came home when they did to discover the fire. Otherwise, the fire damage could have been much more extensive.