NEWTON, N.J. (Sussex County) — Firefighters quickly contained a small kitchen fire Sunday afternoon after smoke was reported inside a multifamily building on Spring Street in Newton, officials said.
The Newton Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched around 2:35 p.m. on Oct. 19 for a report of a burning odor inside the building. When the first arriving crews entered, they found light smoke on the second floor and began investigating the source.
Firefighters discovered heavy smoke inside one apartment, where an unattended cooking pot left on the stove had started to ignite materials in the sink area and nearby cabinets. Crews swiftly extinguished the fire and ventilated the building to remove the remaining smoke.
The Sussex County Fire Marshal’s Office was called to the scene. All units cleared by about 3:33 p.m.
The department reminded residents to always turn off stoves when not in use and to keep flammable materials away from burners. Officials said the prompt response prevented the fire from spreading and causing further damage.
