Firefighters battle Parsippany blaze

PARSIPPANY – A Sedgefield Drive home was severely damaged in fire Tuesday that would have been much worse were it not for the quick work of firefighters.

Authorities responded to the two-story home at about 1 p.m. Tuesday after a report came in about a working fire, Mount Tabor Fire Department Assistant Chief Bryan Crawford said.

Upon arrival the firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames visible on the second floor of the home, and crews were sent inside to extinguish the blaze. The bulk of the fire was in an upper rear bedroom, Crawford said.

Heavy smoke filled the entire second floor, and was spreading down to the first floor at the time crews entered the home so firefighters cut into the roof with chainsaws to ventilate the fire, Crawford said.

The second floor of the home suffered significant smoke damage, and the first floor sustained smoke and water damage. The attic was a total loss, Crawford said.

The hot spots were knocked down and the fire was deemed under control in about 45 minutes, Crawford said.

Nobody was in the home at the time of the blaze, and no firefighters were injured, Crawford said.

"All in all it was a good stop," Crawford said. "Nobody was hurt and we were able to prevent it from being worse."

Lake Parsippany Fire, Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, Parsippany Police, and Parsippany EMS also responded to the scene.

Jersey Central Power & Light and New Jersey Natural Gas also responded to assess the damage.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Crawford said.

Parsippany Mayor James Barberio was on the scene but declined to comment citing the active investigation.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com