Close Call at Bruster’s: Westwood Firefighters Prevent Overnight Disaster
photos courtesy of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, It was a chilly Saturday for an ice cream run, but the heat was already on at a local favorite. The Westwood Volunteer Fire Department responded to a potentially devastating scene at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream on Broadway this past weekend, proving just how lucky a business can get when fire stays contained.
A “Silent” Fire Overnight
Shortly after noon on Saturday, April 25, 2026, Engine 1-2 and Truck 1 were dispatched to the popular Broadway shop following reports of a possible fire that had occurred during the night.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that a piece of equipment had completely burned out and melted to the floor. The intense heat damaged nearby plastic supplies, but miraculously, the flames did not spread to the rest of the building’s structure.
The Danger of Unmonitored Alarms
Perhaps the most alarming part of the incident? Nobody knew it was happening. Because the shop was empty overnight, the local alarm system went unheard. The fire effectively “starved” itself out after destroying the equipment, but without the quick assessment by Westwood’s bravest on Saturday morning, the electrical hazard could have easily reignited.
“The Fire Department was not alerted to this incident overnight… the local alarm system went unnoticed due to no people being around to hear it activate.” — Westwood Fire Department Statement
Safety First: Temporary Closure Ordered
While the building was spared from structural damage, the Fire Official and the Health Department took immediate action to ensure public safety:
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Power Secured: Firefighters disconnected the melted equipment to eliminate further risk.
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Contamination Check: Because of the melting plastic and smoke, the health department is overseeing a thorough cleanup.
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Temporary Shut Down: The shop was temporarily closed to ensure all food products remain safe for the community.
A Reminder for Local Business Owners
This incident serves as a vital reminder for Westwood business owners to consider monitored alarm systems that alert local dispatch directly, rather than relying solely on local sirens that might go unheard during off-hours.
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