Fire Destroys Paramus Junior Baseball League Fieldhouse

PARAMUS, NJ — A fire ripped through the Paramus Junior Baseball League fieldhouse on Sunday, burning trophies, equipment and other mementos, officials from the organization said.

But adding insult to what was already severe injury were a few other items lost in the fire: toys to be donated to the Bergen County Toys for Tots Foundation.

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In a message posted to Facebook, PJBL Treasurer Alan Brundage thanked Paramus police and fire officials for their swift respond to Midland Avenue early Sunday morning. No one was injured in the fire.

"Through their vigilance and bravery, the Paramus Fire and Police Departments did a tremendous job of minimizing the damage and potential for injury," Brundage said.

He then asked the Paramus baseball community for help in making sure the toy drive continues. Here's his message:

"In addition to the losses of equipment, trophies, and other baseball mementos, the PJBL field house was being used to store new, unwrapped toys for The Bergen County Toys for Tots Foundation. These toys were scheduled to be delivered to Operation Toy Train & The United States Marine Corps Reserve for children in need on December 11th. Sadly, all the toys were completely destroyed in the fire. As a member of the PJBL Executive Board, this loss hits particularly hard and close to home," he said.

He continued:

"My wife & Baseball Super-Mom, Brenda, has run the Bergen County Toys for Tots Foundation fundraising campaign for nearly two decades, so I have seen firsthand the positive impact these donations have made on the children they go to. I have also witnessed the countless hours of hard work that go into coordinating a campaign of this magnitude.

I humbly ask the Paramus baseball community to come together during this season of thanks and giving to donate a new unwrapped toy to The Bergen County Toys for Tots Foundation to assist in recovering at least a portion of those lost in the fire."

Donations can be made in person at The Orange Lantern, 15 Firehouse Lane, in Paramus up to Dec. 10. For more information call (201) 652-4443, reference Toys for Tots, and ask for Brenda.