Home Fire Causes Significant Smoke Damage

A gas leak triggered a fire in a New Providence home at approximately 3:30 p.m. Friday, according to New Providence fire officials. The flames were under control by 4 p.m.

New Providence Fire Chief Ralph Parlapiano said the fire was caused by a gas leak in the kitchen of the home at 105 Madison Ave. The rest of the neighborhood is not at any risk, he said.

The fire caused "heavy smoke damage throughout the house," said Deputy Chief Mike Piana. The first three firemen who entered the home said there was intense heat and flames, and "smoke so thick they couldn't see their hands in front of their faces," Piana said.

The Summit Fire Department removed glass panes from the windows to help ventilate the house, Piana said.

Fire departments from Berkeley Heights and Chatham Township also responded to the scene, and Union County Mutual Aid called on Summit and Springfield to also send help. Drew Vignali, the New Providence fire investigator, was present and the Union County Arson Squad also had an investigator at the site, which Piana said was standard protocol for any substantial fire. A task force with personnel from Westfield provided backfill at the fire department. New Providence EMS, the New Providence fire auxiliary team and the Red Cross were also at the scene.

Marie Black, the homeowner, was at home with two construction workers who were doing a job in the kitchen at the time the flames started. Black told authorities she did not require medical treatment. The two construction workers left the scene before officials arrived. Piana said he did not know if the homeowner had a permit for the work in the kitchen.

Piana said the house was liveable, but that it must be assessed for structural damage by the Blacks' insurance company and the town building official. 

PSE&G shut down the gas on the street, and Piana said he had called the power company to pull the meter out of the house.