Cat Missing After Parsippany House Fire: PD

PARSIPPANY, NJ — A family cat remains missing after a fire tore through a Parsippany home Thursday night, police said.

The fire broke out around 5:30 p.m. at the Allentown Road home. Two teens on the second floor smelled smoke and were alerted to the fire by fire alarms. They were able to get out of the home uninjured.

The teens told officers their cat was still inside the home; two police officers tried to get into the home, but the fire and smoke were too heavy to safely enter. As of Thursday night, the cat has not been located, police said.

The fire was fully extinguished, but later rekindled while officers were still at the home. Firefighters were called back to the home, and it was re-extinguished, police said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation; first responders said there was heavy smoke coming from the kitchen window.

Officials say the home is uninhabitable; the family spent the night in a local hotel.

Police stressed the importance of having working smoke detectors in homes.

"We stress the importance of proper maintenance of fire, smoke, and Carbon monoxide alarms, which may include replacing the batteries, so they can quickly alert occupants of the possibility of unsafe conditions," police said.