Livingston Firefighters Rescue Homeowner After Chemical Exposure

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Firefighters in Livingston rushed to the rescue of a local homeowner on Wednesday after a coolant line ruptured and leaked a dangerous refrigerant throughout the house, authorities said.

Livingston Fire Chief Christopher Mullin said he responded to a home on the 80-block of Irving Avenue around noon after the department received a report about a possible emergency.

A relative of the homeowner said he tried to get into the residence, but was driven back by a strange smell, preventing him from reaching his father-in-law, who was in the basement.

Mullin immediately entered the home in an attempt to find the resident. When the fire chief reached the top of the basement stairs in the kitchen, he heard coughing and groaning coming from below.

Mullin said that at this point, he realized that there was some type of chemical exposure to contend with – and that he’d need an air supply to continue the rescue. Returning to his vehicle, Mullin retrieved a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), taking a moment to radio an arriving engine crew and alter them that they’d need to do the same. Then he rushed back into the home and ran down the staircase, where he found a semi-conscious, elderly man lying on the ground.

With time of the essence, Mullin grabbed the groaning homeowner from behind under his arms and made his way up the staircase. When they were at the top – getting a welcome assist from deputy chief Josh Lewis along the way – Mullin rushed the man out of the house, where medical aid was waiting.

Livingston firefighters immediately tended to the resident with oxygen until an EMS crew arrived and provided further treatment. In the meanwhile, firefighters aired out the home using fans and by opening windows and doors.

The homeowner, Mullin and Lewis were each transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

During a search of the residence, emergency responders found a cat – which was temporarily turned over to Livingston Animal Control. After a vet checkup, the cat was released to the custody of a family member.

The Nutley Hazmat team was originally asked to respond to this incident, but the request was cancelled after firefighters were able to safely enter the basement and determine the cause of the chemical exposure.

That cause? The homeowner used a hammer and chisel to break apart some ice buildup in a 1940s-era refrigerator struck the coolant line by accident – sending a leak of Anhydrous Ammonia spreading throughout the residence, authorities said.

The Livingston Fire Department cleared the scene around 2:45 p.m.

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