The Bergenfield Fire Department was dispatched on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 4:55 AM for a report of smoke in a residence on Moos Lane.  Upon arrival firefighters worked to determine the source of an increasing smoke condition and shortly after arrival a fire was located in a concealed ceiling area of the basement.  The fire was quickly extinguished and fire damage was confined to the area of origin while smoke had spread throughout most of the upper two floors of the home.  Mutual aid units from neighboring towns provided manpower and stand-by coverage while Bergenfield units were committed to the scene.  The incident last approximately 2 hours and was concluded without any injuries to firefighters or the residents.

The positive outcome of this fire can be directly connected to the performance of a battery-operated smoke detector in the second floor hallway.  The residents had been asleep for several hours and were awakened by the detector activating from the rising smoke condition.  Once they were awakened the residents quickly called 9-1-1 to report the alarm and smoke condition.  It clearly would have been a different situation had there not been a working detector in the home and had the fire continued to grow before being detected.

Fire Chief Greg Polandick reminds all residents to install and properly maintain smoke detectors on each level of your home.  Detectors should be tested monthly and batteries changed at least twice a year, typically when you change the clocks for Daylight Savings Time.  Smoke detectors in the home have an unbeatable record of life safety when they are maintained in working order.  This incident further proves that early detection and prompt notification to the fire department is key to a successful outcome.  Any resident seeking additional information on smoke detectors or fire safety matters should contact the Bergenfield Fire Department via email at info@bergenfieldfd.org.