Brief: Local Departments Extinguish Greenhouse Fire in Borough

The New Providence Fire Department, Rescue Squad and Police Department responded to an active structure fire at the abandoned greenhouse, located in a wooded area off Division Avenue, just after 1 p.m. Saturday.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is still under investigation, said Fire Chief Ralph Parlapiano.

“It was a brush fire inside the greenhouse that lit the greenhouse on fire,” Parlapiano said in a phone interview. “We knew where it started, but we don’t know why it started. There was no sign that someone lit it, but it didn’t light up by itself.”

Parlapiano said that while the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, the structure is not stable.

“It wasn’t stable before the fire. It’s an abandoned greenhouse, it’s falling down,” Parlapiano said.

Fire Departments from Chatham and Berkeley Heights were at the scene to help extinguish the fire, which took about 45 minutes, while Fanwood and Scotch Plains stayed at the New Providence Fire Department to cover any incoming calls, he said.

Parlapiano said the fire departments left around 4 p.m. after checking for hot spots in the structure.