What the February fire started at 19 Browning Court started, a demolition crew is going to finish.

Mendham Township administrator Steve Mountain brought a request to the Mendham Township committee that the home at 19 Browning Court be allowed to be demolished without a lot development plan.

"The company that is going to do the work on behalf of the homeowner has essentially asked that we waive the plan," Mountain said. "They want to demolish the structure and not rebuiild.

The fire, which had started in the basement, tore its way up through the home causing the first floor to collapse and firefighters needed to cut open portions of the roof and the front wall of the living room in order to douse the flames.

"The residents living there were an elderly woman and essentially her caregiver," Mountain said. "The caregiver is moving out of the area and the elderly resident is going to live with family in another town."

The committee was agreeable to the idea and voted to support but was clear that it did not waive the requirement.

"They want to knock it down and essentially redevelop it as a vacant lot," Mountain said. "The town will not be waiving the requirement. We are just taking it off of the current homeowner and the new owner would have to file the plan."

Newly re-elected committeeman Rick Merkt had no issue with the plan.

"I see no reason why we shouldn't go ahead and support it," Merkt said.