Early Morning Blaze Displaces Nutley Residents

Nutley firefighters were able to quickly contain a potentially devastating early morning fire on Friday, rescuing an eight-month pregnant woman and other residents.

Nutley Fire Dept. Lieutenant David Hollywood said the fire at the two-family home near the intersection of Raymond and Bloomfield Avenues was called into the station shortly after 4 a.m.

Hollywood said the fire was visible from their Chestnut Street headquarters. With the fire nearby and firefighters already on the road after answering a previous call, firefighters were able to quickly respond to the fire.

Robert Csapo, who lives in the apartment where the fire broke out, said he and his wife were asleep, unaware there was a fire in the home until police rang their doorbell. Csapo rushed his wife out of the house. He said the fire cleared through their second floor apartment and was thankful their two cats ran under a bed and survived. 

Five engines and one ladder company responded to the fire, including crews from Belleville and Bloomfield. Hollywood said firefighters had the fire under control within 20 minutes, containing it to the second floor and the attic of the house.

Hollywood said two firefighters and a police officer suffered heat burns from the incident. The firefighters were treated on site and the police officer was hospitalized.