Memorial Day Weekend Ruined by Fire

Budd Lake and Flanders firefighters were dispatched around one o clock Saturday afternoon to Station Rd. in the Budd Lake section of the township for a report of a house fire. Smoke could be scene from Route 46 across the lake as first responders were leaving the station. First arriving units found a single family home with heavy fire coming from the sides and roof area Chief Evans advised Engine 53 to stretch an inch and three quarter line to the front door and try to make an attack Squad 56 came in and assisted with a second line but firefighters were forced out due to heavy fire and a collapse of part of the roof. That area of the township has no fire hydrants and so a Tender task force had to be called to bring water to the scene Engine 95 drafted from a folding tank at the end of the road and Netcong Fire Company set up a fill site by the lake to fill the incoming Tenders. Firefighters had 4 hand lines stretched and put the fire under control within an hour but companies remained on the scene for two hours hitting hot spots and cleaning up. A home owner and one firefighter were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion and burns to the hands. The fire is under investigation by the Mt. Olive Police and Fire Marshal’s Office. Netcong, Hackettstown, Chester and Schooley’s Mt. fire companies assisted at the scene along with other mutual aid covering fire stations.