NEWS

Two Flanders apartments damaged in fire

Staff report

MOUNT OLIVE – Two Oakwood Village apartments were damaged Wednesday in an early morning fire that was particularly difficult to fight because of the single digit temperatures.

Residents of a second-floor apartment reported a fire shortly before midnight Tuesday, according to Doug Fenichel, public information officer for Flanders Fire Co. 1 and Rescue Squad.

Firefighters arrived on the scene and found fire in the ceiling of the apartment and spreading through the walls of the apartment above it and into the attic space, Fenichel said. Although difficult to find and extinguish, firefighters were able to stop the fire from extending beyond the two homes into adjacent apartments, he added.

“This was a great stop,” said Flanders Fire Chief Michael McDermott. “The fire was hiding behind walls and in the attic. It’s hard to find a fire and extinguish a fire any time when it’s in those kind of enclosed spaces, but the icy weather we were working in and the limited access to the scene made it more of a challenge.”

No one was injured and no cause or estimate of the damage was available. Firefighters remained on the scene until about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Members of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) responded and provided a family of three with temporary lodging, food and clothing, according to a release from the agency, which said that an additional family affected by the fire had a place to stay and left the scene.

“They have been notified to contact the Red Cross if assistance is needed,” the release said.

Firefighters and emergency medical technicians from the Flanders Fire Co. 1 and Rescue Squad were assisted by firefighters from Budd Lake, Chester, Hackettstown, Netcong, Roxbury and Stanhope. Mount Olive police officers were also on the scene.