MADISON BOROUGH, N.J. (Morris County) — Emergency crews responded early Sunday morning after a structure fire broke out in an abandoned home within the Drew Forest Preserve in Madison Borough, prompting a second-alarm, officials said.
Around 6 a.m., police received a report of a brush fire off Loantaka Way. Madison Fire Department crews responded promptly and found the blaze was actually a structure fire in an abandoned two-story home within the forest preserve. Firefighters activated a second-alarm to bring in additional resources.
The fire was contained, and crews remained on the scene for approximately three hours to ensure all hot spots were extinguished and to prevent the blaze from spreading to the nearby Zuck Arboretum.
“The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Madison Fire Department, Madison Police Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office,” officials said in a statement.
Madison Fire Chief Wickman praised the swift and coordinated efforts of all responding departments.
“I’m grateful for the quick response and coordinated efforts of all the agencies that assisted this morning,” Wickman said. “Thanks to their hard work and teamwork, the fire was contained quickly, preventing further damage to the surrounding forest.”
The Borough of Madison extended its thanks to mutual aid responders from Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Florham Park, Morris Township, Morristown, and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for assisting on scene and covering the firehouse during the incident.
