No one was injured after a fire that was noticed by a contractor broke out in a single-family home on June 5, leaving the second floor and roof heavily damaged.
Firefighters from Woodbridge responded at 1:13 p.m. to 321 Grady Dr. for a reported structure fire. A contractor who was conducting work at the home ran to a neighbor's house asking them to call 911 after noticing dark smoke emanating from the roof area. The fire department arrived on scene and found heavy smoke showing from the eaves and gable vents of a 1 1/2-story Cape Cod-style home.
A water supply was established and a handline was advanced through the front door to the second floor where firefighters encountered zero visibility and high heat, but no visible fire. The fire appeared to be burning in the void spaces above the ceiling and behind the knee walls. The sheet rock had to be pulled in order to expose and extinguish the fire traveling the void spaces. The heat started to intensify and a backup handline was requested by the interior crew. A second hand line was advanced to the second floor by Fords firefighters to assist in suppression efforts.
The fire eventually broke out through an attic fan in the roof resulting in a gaping hole where a portion of the roof collapsed. The interior crews remained inside to aggressively battle the flames that were traveling the ridge vent and were able to extinguish the fire within 25 minutes. Once the fire was darkened, a moderate smoke condition remained throughout the second floor until ventilation was conducted.
The blaze was declared under control at approximately 1:45 p.m. Extensive overhaul was needed to ensure all pockets of fire were extinguished.
The home sustained significant heat, smoke and water damage and was deemed uninhabitable by the Woodbridge Township Building Department.
Mutual aid from Woodbridge Township and Perth Amboy assisted at the scene and provided coverage during the incident. The Avenel - Colonia First Aid Squad was on scene to provide rehabilitation for emergency personnel.
The cause of the fire is being investigated, but it appears to be accidental in nature.
