MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood firefighters responded to a report of smoke in the house at 10 Nelson Place at approximately 3:20 a.m.on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, according to a press statement from Maplewood Fire Chief Michael Dingelstedt. In addition to the report of smoke in the house, the department received several secondary calls reporting a fire.
The first arriving engine reported heavy fire coming from the rear of the second floor. Maplewood Police Department officers had already assisted a blind 15-year-old boy out of the building from a second-floor apartment when firefighters arrived. Firefighters and police officers then removed an unconscious 54-year-old woman from the same apartment; she was transported to Saint Barnabas and her condition is not known at this time. All other occupants from the second floor and all occupants from the first floor were able to exit safely.
The quick actions of firefighters contained the fire to the apartment of origin and prevented the fire from extending into the cockloft. Due to fire, smoke and water damage, the building was deemed uninhabitable by the Maplewood Building Department and Red Cross is assisting the affected families with living arrangements.
There were no reports of injuries to firefighters. One Maplewood police officer was evaluated by EMS for smoke inhalation, but did not require additional medical attention. Maplewood was assisted by South Orange, Irvington, Millburn, Union, West Orange, Montclair and Bloomfield fire departments for fire suppression and coverage in the township.
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