Oil Fire Damages Ridgewood Apartment, Causes Evacuation: Police

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A fire ignited Thursday afternoon when a man was cooking with oil on the stovetop of his Chestnut Village apartment in Ridgewood, village Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke said.

The resident explained to responding officers that he had poured water on the fire, which caused the situation to worsen, and he and his daughter ran out of the building, Luthcke said.

Ridgewood firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, and although the man had a complaint of pain, there were no significant observable injuries, police said.

Surrounding apartments sustained water damage, and all evacuated residents were allowed back into their apartments after the fire was put out.

American Red Cross is assisting the residents in restoring the one apartment where the fire occurred, police said.