No Injuries in Berkeley Heights Home Fire

Berkeley Heights firefighters battled a smoky electrical blaze that damaged a home at 231 Gallinson Dr. No injuries were reported at the scene.  

According to Berkeley Heights Fire Chief Anthony Padovano, the first alarm fire at 231 Gallinson Drive around 9:30 a.m. Homeowners
were at home at the time the fire began, but no one was injuried.

Padovano said a branch came down from a tall tree
on the property and hit the service line from pole on the opposite
side of the street to the home. The electrical box was behind the
wall, which caught fire in the wall and went up to the attic. He said the fire was under control by 10:30 a.m.

“Mainly it was standing by, waiting for the arrival of the power
company until they could cut the power from the pole to the home," Padovano said, "and then it was just finally extinquished once we opened up the walls,”
Padovano said.

Officials as the scene said gusty winds knocked down a tree limb, which pulled down electrical wires to the home as it fell. 

BHFD firefighters got to the fire, which broke out around 9:45 a.m., with two engine trucks and a ladder. They were soon joined by several other fire
departments were called to the scene to assist, including New
Providence, Watchung, Stirling and Chatham Township. Summit firefighters were standing by as a “fast team” — firefighters whose sole purpose is to rescue trapped firemen.

A ladder truck from Chatham Township covered the left side of the home while a ladder truck from Berkeley Heights was extended to the front of the house.

Padovano said the fire damage was contained to the right side of the
home, adding that the homeowners will be working with their insurance company and JCP&L to get the electrical line repaired. When power line was cut, it did not knock out power to surrounding
neighborhoods.

Padovano said wind was a factor.

“We couldn’t open any windows because the wind would have fueled the
fire behind the walls and it definitely could have been worse,” he
said.

In addition, JCP&L crews arrived to shut down power until the fire was controlled. Please check back to the New Providence-Berkeley Heights Patch for more details as they are made available.