Pet Parrot Saves Bergen County Family From Smoky Early Morning Fire: Police

ROCHELLE PARK, NJ — A Bergen County family was saved from a smoky early morning fire last month thanks to their noisy pet parrot, according to police.

It happened early on the morning of April 1, but it was no April Fool's joke.

According to a police report, firefighters sped to a house on Somerville Street in Rochelle Park shortly after 1 a.m.

Smoke and flames could be seen in the front of the house.

The 911 call came in at 1:12 a.m., the police report indicates.

"Upon arrival, visible black smoke and fire was emanating from the front of the house," the report says. "[Three family members] and the family parrot were evacuated away from the home, as well as the adjacent neighbors for safety."

According to the report, a male family member told the authorities "that they were woken up by the parrot to the smell of smoke in the residence."

Several calls to phone numbers listed for the family were not returned last week. But the family told police they thought their hot water heater was to blame.

The fire started in the kitchen, the police report says.

Help From Beyond

Officials noted that there were many heroes that day.

Rochelle Park volunteer firefighters and Maywood firefighters responded to the blaze.

"Crews from Truck 1 and Maywood Truck 17 conducted a primary search and confirmed the home was safely evacuated," noted Rochelle Park's Fire Department on social media.

"The fast response from RPFD members as well as our mutual aid partners had the main body of fire quickly knocked down, and command placed the incident under control within 40 minutes of dispatch."

Officials said there were no injuries in the fire.

The parrot could not be reached for comment.

Photos from the blaze, taken by Damien Danis and firefighter Massimo Maceri, were used with permission.