Fire scene at 610 Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. North.
HARRISON —
An alert police officer is being credited with getting a quick jump on a fire that broke out at 610 Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. North this past Monday, May 13.
Tour Commander Fire Capt. Robert Gillen said that an alarm of fire came in at about 2:45 p.m.
Gillen said the fire appeared to have originated at a first-floor wooden rear porch area at 610 Rodgers Blvd. N., just south of Scott Mobus Place, East Newark, at the Harrison border.
Gillen said that Harrison Police Officer Paul Yarznbowicz, who was on patrol duty at the time and near the scene, grabbed the fire extinguisher from his vehicle and, while helping evacuate the building, used the extinguisher to knock down the fire.
“He succeeded in isolating fhe fire to a minimal damage area,” Gillen said
Harrison Police Chief Derek Kearns said: “It’s part of our protocol to have an extinguisher in the trunk of our patrol cars.”
In the meantime, Harrison Fire Department responded with a ladder truck, engine and safety officer, with assistance from Kearny Fire Department, which sent four rigs, Gillen said.
Gillen said firefighters managed to douse the remnants of the fire within about 15 minutes with only “minimal” property damage to the three-story stucco residential structure.
Gillen said that the cause of the fire is being investigated by Fire Official George Kondek but said there is speculation that a discarded cigarette or match from someone smoking on the wood porch could have ignited the blaze.
About 20 firefighters responded to the fire which, Gillen said, resulted in no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
— Ron Leir
View of rear brown wood where fire
