House Fire Rips Through Bernards Township Home, Injures Firefighter

A working house fire blew through the second floor of a Bernards Township home on Monday. Several local units responded to the blaze where one firefighter was injured at the scene.

The Liberty Corner Fire Company was dispatched to the scene of the fire at Acken Road in Bernards Township on Monday afternoon, Fire Company Public Information Officer Joe Friedman stated.

Upon arrival, firefighters determined that the blaze was coming from the second floor of the house and had already blown through the top of the structure. Liberty Corner Fire Chief Peter Aprahamian confirmed the source of the fire and established command.

One firefighter was transported to the hospital for shortness of breath and released the same day. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The flames both inside and outside the structure were knocked down quickly, Friedman stated.

According to the Liberty Corner Fire Department:

In order to extinguish the fire, First due 40 Engine 104 laid a five-inch supply line from a nearby hydrant to the front of the structure, Friedman stated. The crew was ordered to stretch two attack lines, one for an interior attack to the second floor and the other for an exterior attack.

A back up line was also established inside the home to protect the staircase to the second floor. Several crew members directed water from the hydrants on to the fire from the exterior, while other crew members entered the second floor with an attack line.

Firefighters from 40 Tower 116 and 40 Engine 102 arrived along with Baking Ridge to assist with extinguishment, salvage, and overhaul. Liberty Corner Fire Chief Deputy Chief Bill Ludlow served as the Operations Officer while Assistant Chief Ron Depasquale led the interior crews.

Additional resources were requested including the Lyons VA Fire Department (Station 59) for RIT, the Basking Ridge Fire Company (Station 20) for an Engine Company and a Rehab Unit and a BLS unit from Long Hill Township to assist the Liberty Corner First Aid Squad.

The Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department, the Millington Fire Company and the Stirling Fire Company provided standby coverage to Bernards Township during the operation.

Photos courtesy of Joe Friedman, Liberty Corner Fire Department Public Information Officer

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