Montclair Firefighters Delayed At Train Crossing While Battling Blaze

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair firefighters were able to overcome a series of obstacles – including a delay at a train crossing – while battling a blaze at a local home on Friday morning, authorities say.

According to the Montclair Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to a home on Irving Street around 7 a.m. Fire crews arrived to find smoke and flames coming from a large, detached garage on the property.

Here’s what happened next, authorities said:

“Firefighters had to use saws to gain access to the burning structure. Once inside, they were able to extinguish the fire before it could threaten any nearby homes. Two of the responding fire units were delayed by over three minutes at a train crossing. Fortunately, firefighters on scene were able to overcome the challenges of the delayed arrival of those units.”

No injuries were reported. An investigation into the cause of the fire continues, authorities said.

MONTCLAIR FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUES ADVISORY

According to the MFD, extreme weather can cause an increase in fire activity – and create additional challenges for firefighters.

“The Montclair Fire Department has responded to 125 incidents in the past week alone, several of which were fires,” authorities said Friday.

“We ask people to be mindful of their use of space heaters and ensure that their home heating systems are operating properly,” the fire department added.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com