UPDATE: S. Ridgewood Fire Started in Basement

A fire broke out in the basement of a three-story wood frame house at 24 S. Ridgewood Road at around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. No injuries were reported.

Firemen responding to the scene encountered the occupant of the residence outside upon arrival and ran lines through the rear entrance to the basement level to attack the blaze. They opened up first-floor walls to put out the fire that had spread from the basement and also extinguished flames under the front porch.

Fire personnel from Maplewood, Orange and Irvington responded to the call and helped put out the blaze, as well as seven off-duty South Orange firemen, and a truck and engine company from East Orange arrived at the firehouse to cover headquarters,

By 11:30 p.m., a source at the South Orange fire department reported the fire as "under control."

The origin of the fire was found to be in the basement ceiling near a ceiling-mounted track lighting system wired into a four-inch electrical junction box. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the fire department.

PSE&G was notified, and electrical power to the building was disconnected, and the gas supply was shut off at the interior meter. The building was determined to be uninhabitable and a notice was posted out front. The Building Department is scheduled to inspect the scene this morning.

The residence sustained heavy damage to the basement, first floor and exterior porch area and smoke and water damage throughout.

At 1:20 a.m., all units were cleared from the scene.