PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Police Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls reporting a structure fire at 64 Midvale Avenue, Lake Hiawatha, at 3:47 a.m. on Friday, January 15.
Multiple Parsippany Police Officers, along with the Lake Hiawatha Fire Department District #4, Rockaway Neck Fire Department District #5, Rockaway Neck First Aid Squad, and the Town of Boonton Fire DepartmentRapid Intervention Crew responded to the scene.
Upon arrival of Patrol Sergeant Earl Kinsey and Patrol Officer Michael Sprung, along with Deputy Fire Chief of District #4 C. Cleary they found one resident, 23 year old female, outside the house, who reported the other resident, a 61 year old male, had just entered the structure.
Shortly after learning the male entered the residence, he emerged from the structure. The residents advised the Officers that three cats and three birds were still inside the residence. Due to the heavy smoke responding Officers were unable to enter the residence to locate the pets.
The responding Fire Departments were able to bring the fire under control and extinguish it. The fire was contained to one bedroom, but the rest of the interior of the house sustained heavy smoke damage. Rockaway Neck First Aid Squad evaluated both occupants, who refused further medical treatment.
Parsippany Rescue and Recovery arrived at the scene to fill air bottle, and to board up the house.
Three of the resident’s birds and one cat perished in the fire. Parsippany Animal Control responded to the scene and took control of the two surviving cats.
The structure is uninhabitable and the Red Cross was contacted and responded to assist the victims.
Morris County CIS responded to the scene and processed the area. This incident is still under investigation by Fire Investigator Det. M. Czajka.
If anyone has any information about the fire, they are asked to call the Investigative Division at (973) 263-4313.
