Maplewood FD Responds to Irvington Fire, Fighter Suffers Minor Injury

One Maplewood firefighter and at least eight other firefighters from other towns suffered injuries battling a fire in an abandoned three-story residence in Irvington this evening.

According to Maplewood Deputy Fire Chief Thomas McNulty, the Maplewood firefighter suffered a "very minor burn" and had been taken to St. Barnabas Burn Center for evaluation and treatment.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 1050 Grove Street in Irvington around 6 p.m. Besides Irvington and Maplewood, units from West Orange and the Essex County Office of Emergency Management were also at the scene. The Star-Ledger reports that East Orange also provided mutual aid.

McNulty could not release the name of the injured Maplewood firefighter this evening. The identity of the injured Irvington firefighters (Patch's reporter saw at least two Irvington firefighters receiving treatment from EMTs on scene) and the extent of their injuries were unclear.

By 7 p.m., the fire seemed to be out. It appeared to start in the attic and spread upward to the roof, fire officials said, destroying the building.

The Red Cross was called to the scene to determine if neighboring residents needed assistance.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.