Fire damages vacant home in Concordia

Fire damages vacant home
in Concordia
BY TARA PETERSEN
Staff Writer

MONROE — A fire that started in a second-floor condominium was extinguished before it could cause severe damage to the attached units.

Fire officials were called to respond to the fire at a home on Concordia Circle at 7:36 p.m. Dec. 4, according to fire officials.

Firefighters from all three of Monroe’s fire districts responded, along with the township’s First Aid Squad, police, and firefighters from Helmetta and Jamesburg fire departments, according to Fire Capt. James Carbin.

No one was in the unit at the time of the fire, he said, but there was considerable damage to the dwelling.

"The home did receive substantial damage, but it wasn’t a total loss," Carbin said.

The first-floor unit below the one in question also sustained water damage, and the unit next door received "minor smoke damage."

Upon arrival at the scene, officials could see smoke and flames coming from a rear attic vent.

"The fire started in the attic," Carbin said.

The fire was under control in about 30 minutes, and it was extinguished completely after three to four hours.

"We made an aggressive interior attack, which kept the fire from spreading," Carbin said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.

Carbin said that the alarm company as well as a neighbor simultaneously reported the fire.

The response time was eight minutes, Carbin said.

The home where the fire took place is for sale, and Carbin said that it appeared the owner had already moved out.