Resident Rescued After Garage Catches Fire In North Caldwell

NORTH CALDWELL, NJ —Police and firefighters responded to a fire in a North Caldwell resident's garage on Saturday morning and got a resident out to safety, officials said.

Firefighters said that it was 8:11 a.m. when they were dispatched to a Brookside Avenue home.

The Police Department said, "Dispatcher Michael Schumell quickly dispatched police and fire to the scene. Officers arrived and confirmed a working fire at the home. Sergeant O’Neill, Officer Johnson and Officer Roszkowski entered the smoke filled home and assisted the resident to safety. The North Caldwell Fire Department arrived on scene and extinguished the fire within minutes. Captain/OIC Strodthoff was notified and also responded to the scene to assist."

The fire department said, "Chief Peterson arrived on scene and assumed command of the incident. Engine 4 was the first to arrive and made entry into the interior of the structure. Engine 4’s crew made an aggressive fire attack and knocked the bulk of fire down within minutes. Additional crews from Engine 6, Engine 5, and Utility 8 responded within minutes."

Local departments requested mutual aid from the Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department, Essex County, and the Cedar Grove Fire Department.

Firefighters said, "Crews determined that the fire did not spread into the other areas of the structure. Additionally, West Caldwell Fire Department and Essex Fells Fire Department stood by at the firehouse as crews operated on the scene.West Essex First Aid Squad responded to the scene to provide rehabilitation services to the crews operating.We would like to thank the responding agencies for their assistance."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the department said.

The police said, "Due to the quick response of our Officers and the Fire Department, there was no loss of life or injuries and the home was saved from heavy damage."

Photos are below.