Mendham Officials Help Beat Budd Lake Blaze

The Mendham Fire Department was among the agencies that responded to a fire that tore through a Budd Lake home Sunday morning.

The Oxford Road blaze awoke the residents, who escaped without injury, and took more than five hours to completely extinguish, Mount Olive Police said.

The Mount Olive Police Communications Center received a 911 call from one of the residents, stating there was a fire in the house at about 5 a.m., police said.

According to police, the family followed the dispatcher's instruction to exit the house and await emergency units. The four residents, parents and two teenagers, told the police upon arrival that they were asleep when then heard the smoke detectors, police said. 

According to police, the residents said they observed a fire near the fireplace  on the first floor of the home and attempted to extinguish the fire utilizing a garden hose but quickly was overcome by the smoke and were forced to evacuate.

The Budd Lake Fire Department responded to the scene and was assisted by the Flanders Fire Department, Netcong Fire Department, Hackettstown Fire Department, Byram Fire Department and the Mendham Fire Department, police said.

According to police, the fire was brought under control at approximately 8 a.m. and was completely extinguished by 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

The joint fire marshal and police investigation determined the blaze began in the fireplace and was not suspicious, police said.

According to officials, the damage made the home uninhabitable and the Red Cross responded to assist the family locating shelter.