EDISON — A fire that erupted from a lit candle resulted in minor injuries for a township firefighter and damaged a Longview Road home, according to Tim Morley, Edison fire official.
The owner of the two-story home lit candles to provide lighting during a storm-related power outage that occurred around 9 p.m. July 8.
The homeowner called 911 at 10:39 p.m. to report the blaze after a smoke alarm sounded, and firefighters arrived soon after to find heavy smoke pervading the first floor of the residence, Morley said.
The fire began in the garage of the home, which had been converted into a mother-inlaw suite. It eventually broke through to the second floor, but remained in that section of the house.
Once the homeowner, her daughter and their cat were safely outside, firefighters transmitted a second alarm, to which Metuchen firefighters and other mutual aid companies responded.
Firefighters mounted an interior attack on the flames, at one point retreating outside when the fire began to worsen. One Edison firefighter was transported to JFK Medical Center in the township after sustaining a minor injury to his shoulder. He was released that same evening, according to Morley.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 11 p.m. The portion of the house where the fire started sustained fire damage, and the rest of the residence was damaged by water and smoke, making it uninhabitable at present.
The residents are staying with family until they can return, Morley said.