Firefighters Extinguish Two-Alarm Fire at Hanford Place Home

The Westfield Fire Department with assistance from other local crews extinguished a two-alarm fire at 714 Hanford Place on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Fire Chief Daniel Kelly, the fire began in a closet on the third floor of the single-family home and caused damage to the third and second floors.

"When we arrived there was heavy smoke coming from the third floor," Kelly told Patch. Union County Mutual Aid and crews from Cranford, Roselle and Plainfield were also called to the scene.

The fire was called in at 11:17 a.m. and was placed under control about 45 minutes later, according to Kelly. One Westfield firefighter sustained minor injuries and was taken to Overlook Hospital.

Homeowner John Tabachnik told Patch he was at work when a neighbor called to tell him his home was on fire. Tabachnik said he lives in the home with his daughter, a senior at Westfield High School, who had just moved upstairs to the finished third floor where the fire began.

Three painters were working inside the home when the fire began, but were able to exit safely, along with the family's dog.