Fair Lawn Firefighters Save Elderly Man from House Fire—Closed Door Credited with Preventing Disaster
Photos courtesy of Martin Pelta
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Fair Lawn NJ, a quick response and two incredibly brave firefighters averted a major tragedy in Fair Lawn, NJ, this past Monday afternoon. Officials confirmed that a fire at a home on 28th Street resulted in a dramatic rescue and sent two residents to the hospital.
The incident highlights not only the heroism of the Fair Lawn Fire Department but also the simple, life-saving power of closing a bedroom door during a fire.
The Scene: Zero Visibility, Critical Seconds
The emergency call came in around 4:30 p.m. Monday. When fire crews arrived at the single-family home, they were immediately met with a dangerous scene.
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Heavy Smoke Condition: Assistant Fire Chief Mike Salvini and Deputy Fire Chief Marc Palmieri were among the first on the scene and quickly requested backup upon seeing the heavy smoke.
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The Rescue: Despite “near zero visibility,” the two firefighters entered the building and discovered a “non-ambulatory elderly man” trapped on the second floor. They successfully carried the resident down and out to safety.
All four Fair Lawn Fire Companies responded, demonstrating the coordinated effort required for the rescue. The fire was declared under control before 5 p.m., with all units clearing the scene by 6 p.m.
The Life-Saving Power of a Closed Door
While the firefighters’ actions were undeniably heroic, officials pointed to a crucial factor that contained the damage and saved lives: a closed door.
The fire originated in a first-floor bedroom, but because the door to that room was closed, the fire was contained to its point of origin.
Fair Lawn Fire Chief Ralph Rinaldo: “Our two firefighters did an amazing job locating the resident and getting him out of the building quickly in near zero visibility conditions. In addition, the door of the fire room was closed. This isolated the fire and prevented the fire from spreading. Had the door been left open we may have had a very different outcome today.”
This incident is a powerful testament to the “Close Before You Doze” safety campaign, which stresses that a closed door can significantly slow the spread of fire, smoke, and deadly gases, buying occupants and rescuers precious minutes.
Injuries and Investigation
Two residents were injured and transported to Valley Hospital for treatment. One firefighter was treated at the scene for minor injuries and did not require hospitalization.
The entire operation involved multi-agency support, including the Fair Lawn Rescue Squad, the Fair Lawn Volunteer Ambulance Corp, the Fair Lawn Police Department, and the Fair Lawn Office of Emergency Management.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fair Lawn Fire Prevention Bureau.
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