Water Loss Leads to Flashover that Injured 10 Firefighters at Hillsdale, NJ, House Fire

A mayday was called after firefighters inside the Hillsdale home lost water and a flashover occurred.

By Jeff Goldman

Source nj.com

Oct. 21, 2025

Hillsdale fire officials said crews on scene lost their water supply and a flashover insued, leaving 10 firefighter injured.

Ten Hillsdale firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling a house fire in the Bergen County borough early Tuesday morning, the chief said.

The fire on Ellen Court broke out around 3:45 a.m. on the rear deck of a home and spread into the attic, Chief Bill Farrell said in a statement.

While working to extinguish the fire, firefighters briefly lost water supply. That led to a “flashover” which occurs when all combustible materials in an area quickly ignite.

A mayday was called and all firefighters inside were then forced to exit the house, Farrell said.

While emergency workers treated the injured firefighters, other firefighters knocked down the blaze. All residents were evacuated safely when firefighters arrived, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The fire is not considered suspicious, the prosecutor’s office said.