Fire Leaves West Orange Home ‘Uninhabitable,’ Investigation Continues

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A serious fire that left a West Orange home uninhabitable last weekend is still under investigation, authorities said Wednesday.

No civilian injuries were reported in the blaze, which took place Sunday on Weber Road. However, a firefighter was transported to the hospital with symptoms consistent with heat stress. He was treated and released, authorities told Patch.

In addition, a pet dog was resuscitated and transported to a nearby emergency animal hospital, authorities said.

A township spokesperson released the following statement about the fire:

“The West Orange Fire Department responded to a working fire at 19 Weber Road in West Orange at 8:27 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4. Upon arrival, crews were met with heavy fire in the garage and first floor of a 2-1/2 story occupied wood frame single family house. In coordination with a primary search of the building (negative for victims), fire crews began an aggressive interior attack until command ordered an evacuation due to a partial garage roof collapse. A defensive position was taken until the main bodies of fire were controlled at which time crews conducted overhaul operations to search for hidden fire. During overhaul, additional fire was discovered in many hidden voids and the fire took several hours before it was placed under control. Mutual aid responded to the scene from several local fire departments.”

The blaze caused heavy damage to the one-family home, leaving it “uninhabitable,” authorities said.

The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities said.

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