Early Tues AM Fire on College Place

On Tues. morning, just after 3:00 a.m., the South Orange Fire Department responded to a fire at 136 College Pl.  Fire Chief Jeff Markey provided details on the incident.

SOFD Headquarters 8-2, Truck 8-1 and Engine 8-4 arrived on the scene.  Headquarters 8-2 established Command and observed heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the structure extending into the interior of the rear enclosed porch on the first floor.  Engine 8-4 was instructed to develop a water supply.  Truck 8-1 was instructed to enter the structure to conduct a search and check for extension on Division 2.  Engine 8-4 stretched a 1-3/4 inch hand line to the rear of the building.  A second 1-3/4 inch line was stretched to the second floor to check for extension.  

There were five students asleep at home during the fire.  Four of the residents were asleep on the second floor and one of the residents was asleep on the first floor. 

The resident on the first floor woke and discovered that there was a fire in the rear of the house.  The resident alerted the other four residents and all five self-evacuated the house prior to the arrival of the fire units.  An Engine Company from the Maplewood Fire Department arrived on the scene and was assigned as the FAST Team.  Headquarters 8-1 arrived on the scene.

The fire was quickly brought under control.  The interior walls and ceilings of the porch were opened and all fire was extinguished.  Smoke ejector was used to ventilate the structure of the smoke.

There was heavy exterior fire damage to the rear of the building and fire damage to the first floor interior porch.  The first and second floor also experienced moderate smoke damage.

The building was determined to be uninhabitable by Headquarters 8-1, the South Orange Building Department was notified to respond and post the building to prevent entry.  The residents were assorted into the building to retrieve any immediate belongings.  All of the residents are staying with friends at this time.

An Origin and Cause Investigation was conducted by the SOFD.  the Origin was determined to be in a trash can in the rear of the building.  All of the occupants were interviewed, the electrical system was checked, no breakers had been tripped.  Electrical condition was ruled out as a possible cause.  Improperly discarded smoking materials could not be ruled out as the cause of the fire.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time.  The fire has been ruled accidental at this time.