Worker Rescued in FDU Classroom Fire [UPDATE]

Teaneck firefighters rescued a worker hanging from a window in a smoky fire on the Fairleigh Dickinson University campus that sent several people to the hospital Tuesday night, officials said.

Two township firefighters and two campus public safety officers were hospitalized after the fire broke out in a classroom at Becton Hall, Teaneck Fire Chief Anthony Verley said in a statement early Wednesday. One of the fire department officials was released and another kept for observation at the hospital.

The two campus security officers were also taken to Holy Name Medical Center suffering from minor smoke inhalation, police said.

Verley said three workers clearing asbestos in the building were checked by emergency responders and one was taken to Holy Name Medical Center. None of the injuries were serious.

Teaneck firefighters were on the scene in two minutes and found the worker hanging out of the window as smoke poured out. Firefighters quickly raised a ladder and brought the man to safety, Verley said.

“The crew of Engine 2 did an aggressive rescue and saved the worker’s life,” Deputy Fire Chief Paul Browning, who responded to the fire, said in an early morning statement. “I'm very proud of their actions today.”

Firefighters faced thick smoke with no visibility as they knocked down the flames, Verley said. The fire was out in about 30 minutes and crews worked about another hour and a half to vent the building.

“The buildings excellent block construction kept the fire from spreading further. The amount of heat generated melted everything plastic in the hallway including the fire alarm pull stations, the smoke detectors, a floor dryer and light covers,” the fire chief said.

“This was a fire with significant damage,” Verley stated. “With the cinder block construction of the building and alarm connected to the FD street box system, the fire was extinguished quickly. Once again we saw the value of the quick response of the neighborhood fire company."

University spokeswoman Dina Schipper told Patch Becton Hall was closed for renovations over the summer and no other staff or students were injured. The cause of the fire was under investigation, she said.

Hackensack and Englewood firefighters assisted at the scene while departments from Ridgefield Park, Bogota and Bergenfield responded to several other calls in Teaneck as township crews worked at FDU.