HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Warren County) — A two-alarm apartment fire Friday evening displaced one resident and prompted the evacuation of an apartment building in Hackettstown, according to authorities.
Hackettstown police responded to the 100 block of Center Street at approximately 5:46 p.m. for a reported structure fire.
Upon arrival, officers observed large amounts of black smoke coming from an apartment and immediately began evacuating the other apartments in the building.
Police said the homeowner told officers he was at a neighbor’s residence when the building’s fire alarms activated. After returning to his apartment, he discovered an active kitchen fire and attempted to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher, but the fire was too large to safely contain.
The Hackettstown Fire Department, assisted by several neighboring fire departments, responded to the two-alarm fire.
No injuries were reported. All residents were able to return to their apartments except for the apartment affected by the fire. The homeowner was assisted by the American Red Cross of New Jersey.
During fire operations, firefighters rescued a cat from the apartment and transported it to a local animal hospital for treatment.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Hackettstown Police Detective Bureau and the Mount Olive Township Fire Marshal’s Office.
A SupportNow fundraising campaign has been organized by Taylor Van Putten Vink to assist Daryl, who organizers said lost all of his belongings after his electric stove exploded and ignited the apartment. Those wishing to contribute can visit the SupportNow website to make a donation.
