3 firefighters injured as 7 people, 4 dogs rescued from building fire in Morris County
BOONTON, NJ (Morris County) – Three firefighters were injured as seven people, including a child, and four dogs were rescued from a three-alarm building fire in Morris County Saturday night, authorities said.
The fire broke out at 11:13 p.m. at a two-story building at 121 Mechanic Street in Boonton. A machine shop is located on the first and residential is on the second floor, police said.
The first arriving patrol officers and volunteer firefighters found residents attempting to exit the building from the two front windows of the second floor, police said.
The firefighters put up ground ladders to the two front windows and seven people, including a child, were rescued from the window. No injuries were reported, police said.
Simultaneously, firefighters ascended the stair case with a hose line and began an interior attack on the fire. Those stairs collapsed and a ground ladder was secured there for their egress. Firefighters located and rescued four dogs, police said.
Three firefighters were injured and were transported to local hospitals. All have trauma related injuries that are non-life-threatening or serious in nature, police said.
For approximately 1 to 2 hours, through three-alarms and the response of approximately 100 firefighters the fire was brought under control, police said.
The American Red Cross helped 6 people from 2 families with emergency assistance for temporary lodging, food, clothing and other immediate needs.
The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by the Boonton Police Department’s Detective Bureau, Morris County CSI, Town fire officials, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
