Fire Department Responds to Hazel Avenue Fire

A plumber working on a house on Hazel Avenue inadvertently caused a fire in a crawl space when he used a torch near a gas line on Tuesday, said Livingston Fire Chief Chris Mullin.

The plumber, who was not injured in the small blaze, quickly extinguished the fire with a portable extinguisher and called the fire department to make sure it was completely out, said Mullin.

Mullin said the plumber was working on a gas line in the crawl space and the torch ignited the insulation behind the wall, because of a build-up of gas.

"It could have been a lot worse," said Mullin. Firefighters wet down the wall to ensure the fire was out. 

"We don't advocate using a torch near a gas line," said Mullin.