great photo courtesy of Nick Ariemma
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, on Thursday August 17th, just after 8am, the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to Mountain Avenue for a reported house fire. Upon arrival of the first due units on scene it was confirmed that there was a fire with smoke coming from the front door. Command then called for a working fire assignment, which dispatches the River Vale Fire Department for a “fast team”. (A fast team is used in the fire service as a stand by crew ready to grab a downed firefighter at a fire scene in case the firefighter becomes injured or trapped).
Engine 1’s crew quickly stretched a hose line to the seed of the fire and put it out while Truck 1’s crew conducted primary searches throughout the house. The fire was kept to the place of origin and didn’t extend further into the house. 2 family cats were rescued from the home and rushed to Westwood Animal Hospital, there status is unknown at this time, but the word is that the police provided oxygen to both cats at the scene . No injuries reported .
Kudos to the fire and police departments for going the extra mile to not only save the house and residents but also the two cats. Several years ago we adopted a senior cat which was saved from a house fire in South Hackensack. The firefighters, police and EMTs gave her oxygen and saved her life. At age 18 she is happy and still going strong.