Quick Action Prevents Fire Disaster

Things could have been much worse for a Prospect Avenue homeowner and her Pomeranian Sunday night. When a small fire broke out in a crawlspace at the rear of her home, help was there almost immediately in the form of former Chief Ernie Van Pelt.

It helps when you have a fire fighter for a neighbor.

According to another former fire chief at the scene, Tom Doremus, Van Pelt’s home backs up to the east side home that caught on fire at about 10:20 p.m. Sunday night. Van Pelt rushed to the scene and was able to tend to the fire while waiting for backup help from the fire department, Doremus said.

Crews were able to have the fire under control in a matter of minutes, using a drill to access additional space before giving it the once over with a spray from a hose that was dragged in through the front door.

Neither the homeowner nor her Pomeranian, who sat on the porch while firefighters came and went, were injured in the fire threat.

Doremus said the cause of the fire is currently unknown, pending review from the fire marshal’s office, though it’s possible that its cause was electrical in nature.

Crews from Union Hose, Navesink Hook and Ladder, Independent Engine, and Relief Engine responded to the fire. Representatives from Red Bank Rescue Squad were also on hand.

Firefighters left the scene about an hour after first arriving.