FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 12, 2022

Point of Contact: Lt. Matthew Lubin, Fire Official

m-lubin@cranfordnj.org

CRANFORD – The Cranford Fire/EMS and Police Departments and the Cranford First Aid Squad responded to a residential structure fire on Orchard Street last evening. Fire Department units were dispatched around 7:00 p.m. to the area of Holly and Orchard Streets reporting a house fire. Responding units arrived within three minutes. Upon arrival, personnel encountered a two-and-a-half story single family home in the 100 block of Orchard Street, with heavy fire conditions. Fire units initiated an interior fire attack and determined that all of the occupants were accounted for. The incident escalated to three alarms, bringing in mutual aid fire resources from several surrounding communities via the Union County Fire Mutual Aid System. The Cranford First Aid Squad provided an EMS stand-by team.

The fire was brought under control around 8:10pm. Mutual Aid resources from neighboring Fire Departments provided fire protection for the Township from Cranford Fire Headquarters while local resources were committed at the scene.

Three occupants who were home at the time the fire started escaped without injury, but unfortunately the family lost two pets. Two firefighters reported minor injuries. The home was deemed uninhabitable due to fire and smoke damage.

Remaining units cleared the scene in the overnight hours. Police units remained on scene during the overnight hours to maintain a fire watch. The cause of the fire is being investigated by CPD and CFD staff and our partners at the Union County Fire Investigation Task Force.

The Fire Department reminds all residents that the most effective way to protect you and your family from fire is to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms throughout your home, have an escape plan with two ways out, and regular fire drills with your family. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly and check on family, friends, and neighbors who may not be able to test their alarms.

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Lt. Matthew J. Lubin, MPA

Fire Official

Emergency Management Coordinator

Cranford Fire Department

7 Springfield Avenue | Cranford, NJ 07016

Desk: 908.709.7200 Ext. 2014 | Fax: 908.276.6183