Fire destroys Verona home
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
A series of storms rolled through the area packed with
heavy rains and lightning last weekend.
Officials said a lightning strike is to blame for a fire that broke out at a
Mount Prospect Avenue home around 4:35 p.m. Saturday.
“Upon arrival there was heavy smoke coming from the roof line,” said Verona Fire
Chief Harvey Goodman, describing the scene when he arrived. “It hit the chimney
and took some of it.”
According to Capt. Peter Wojtal of the Verona Police Department, Charles Graham,
the homeowner of the property, was watching a New York Yankees game when he
heard a crash. His house shook and his smoke detectors sounded. Graham went
upstairs to investigate, discovered heavy smoke and a fire, then left his house,
the police captain said.
Graham could not be reached for comment.
Verona Fire Department, along with the Cedar Grove Fire Department, North
Caldwell Fire Department, Caldwell Fire Department, Montclair Fire Department’s
Rapid Intervention Team, Verona Rescue Squad and Cedar Grove Ambulance & Rescue
Squad, were dispatched to assist with the fire.
Goodman said it was quite difficult to get a handle on the fire. It took
firefighters approximately two hours to contain the blaze.
“It was a stubborn fire; we had difficulty reaching it and we kept chasing it.
It was difficult to get through the ceilings and walls to get to the roofline,”
he said. “We had to use saws and poles to get them down.”
One firefighter was injured fighting the fire. A Cedar Grove firefighter slipped
down the stairs and twisted his ankle. He was taken to Mountainside Hospital and
was later released.
The fire caused extensive damage to the third floor, and the first and second
floors had water damage. The cost of damages was unknown as of Tuesday.
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