Home Uninhabitable After Early-Morning Blaze

Construction crews were working Thursday afternoon to clean up the aftermath of an early-morning fire at 415 Vassar Street.

A blaze that started sometime after 3 a.m. Thursday largely destroyed the dwelling, originating from the home's deck but quickly spreading to the attic and second floor. The fire would cause the home's roof to collapse before responders were able to extinguish the blaze.

Despite the ferocity of the fire, no one suffered any injuries. The home's residents were quickly brought to safety thanks to an alert neighbor who saw the fire, and first responders underwent their standard review by Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps volunteers, although no one was injured.

"It's a godsend to us that no one was hurt," fire Chief David Murphy said.

Firefighters arrived at the Vassar Street home at approximately 3:45 a.m. to find the rear deck in flames. The fire quickly spread up the structure to the attic, aided by a gas line leading to a grill on the deck, Murphy said.

"We feel that must have enhanced the fire," the chief said.

Firefighters initially entered the structure, trying to knock down the blaze directly. "We're always aggressive... we always make an attempt at the interior first," Murphy said. "The primary objective is always to go in."

However, the rapidly spreading fire and precarious state of the second floor forced responders to retreat to the exterior.

"There's so much fire above their heads that to leave them in there becomes a safety issue," Murphy said.

The blaze would soon cause the roof to mostly collapse. Firefighters continued to battle the fire from the exterior of the home, using a departmental ladder bucket to douse the flames. The fire was brought under control just before 5 a.m.

Murphy said the home's basement and first floor are largely intact while the second floor and attic were mostly destroyed.