Fire Erupts at Historic Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion Property: Oradell Firefighters Contain Blaze
photos courtesy of the Oradell Fire Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
ORADELL, NJ — A major response from Bergen County first responders early this morning prevented a potential tragedy at one of New Jersey’s most endangered historic landmarks.
At approximately 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, firefighters were dispatched to 705 Kinderkamack Road following reports of a structure fire at the abandoned carriage house adjacent to the historic Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion.
Rapid Response Limits Damage to “Shingle Style” Landmark
Upon arrival, Chief Terrance Moran and crews from Oradell, River Edge, and Paramus discovered flames leaping from the roof of the two-and-a-half-story wood-frame building.
The carriage house, currently unoccupied, sits just south of the main mansion. According to Chief Moran, the fire was fueled by a thick layer of dried pine needles covering the roof. Thanks to a swift “working fire” declaration and mutual aid from surrounding towns, including Emerson Fire Department on standby, the flames were confined to the exterior and roof.
While the interior was spared from fire damage, the structure did sustain water damage during the containment efforts. PSE&G was on-site to disconnect utility services as a safety precaution.
An Uncertain Cause for an Endangered Site
The Bergen County Arson Squad is currently investigating the incident. While the cause is officially listed as “undetermined,” authorities stated the fire appeared unsuspicious at the time of the report.
Mayor James Koth, who served on the front lines as a firefighter during the call, expressed gratitude to the neighboring departments for their rapid assistance in protecting the site.
The Fight to Save the Blauvelt Mansion
The fire brings renewed attention to the Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion, a property long considered “endangered” by preservationists.
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Built: 1896–1897 for insurance mogul Kimball Chase Atwood.
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Significance: Cited by Preservation NJ as one of the finest examples of Shingle Style architecture in the United States.
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Ownership: Both the carriage house and the mansion are currently owned by CareOne, a senior healthcare provider.
For years, local advocates have pushed for the preservation of this Bergen County gem. This morning’s incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the region’s historic architectural legacy.
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You know and I know CareOne sent one of their boys in to “Help”
move their interest along. Kinda like when the Lester property went BOOM
for no apparent reason and obliviously arson but you know how that went down.