Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Candles Caused Fire Above Ice Cream Shop, Cops Say

Main Street reopened after the morning blaze above Taylor's Ice Cream Shop that sent two to the hospital.

Main Street in Chester has reopened after the fire that erupted Friday morning above Taylor's Ice Cream Parlor in Chester has been placed under control. 

Chester Borough Police Sgt. Dave Jara said that the fire was caused by candles lit in the second floor apartment at 18 Main St. and that all occupants of the home were safely evacuated.

"If you are looking at the building from the rear, the fire originated
in an apartment in the north west portion of the building," Jara said. "The
preliminary cause of the fire is due to drapery coming into contact
with a candle while the tenant stepped out of the room."

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Jara said that roommates Tracy Drake and Dawn Pustay were taken to Morristown Medical Center to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The Morris County Office of Emergency Management was on scene with their mobile command center and Morris County OEM director Jeff Paul said that the Red Cross would be assisting the family that has been displaced from their home.

Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Firefighters were able to rescue two cats who had been trapped on the second-floor and they were reunited with their owners in the Well Bred Pet Shop on Main Street, where owner Patti Storms opened her doors for the feline victims.

"(The) cats are fine!" Storms said in an email to Patch. "We hooked them up with crates and beds and sent them up to Black River Vet to be checked. One is on some anti-inflamatory meds, the other A-OK."

Storms said that the cats owner, Melissa Howie, and her mother were "were beyond happy that the cats were out."

Storms said first responders had pet oxygen masks with them and both felines were treated on site.

Smoke could still be seen streaming from the building after firefighters had been on scene for more than an hour, working on ventilating the structure. Chester Borough Mayor Bob Davis and council president Tim Iversen were on scene as was council woman Jennifer Cooper-Napolitano.

Chester Fire Chief and Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Angelo Bolio said Taylor's had not been damaged by the fire itself, but by water used to fight the blaze.

First responders from Chester, Mendham, Mount Olive, Randolph, New Vernon, Fairmount and Netcong all responded to the scene.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story referenced an NJ.com report that said Robert Cline owned Taylor's Ice Cream Parlor for more than 10 years. Linda Cline has since reached out to Patch and said her son never owned Taylor's and we have amended the story.


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