ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. — A firefighter suffered a heart attack while battling three-alarm house fire Thursday night.
NorthJersey.com reported that the firefighter, with the Elmwood Park (N.J.) Fire Department, received CPR on scene, was revived and transported to a hospital for surgery. Fire crews arrived from multiple surrounding jurisdictions to help battle the fire.
The firefighter’s name has not yet been released, but fire officials said he’s a high-ranking firefighter.
Investigators found no evidence of arson or foul play at the house fire.
“It was a pretty rapid fire due to the weather conditions,” Chief Michael Foligno said. “It doesn’t appear to be suspicious.”
A man, his wife and son were in the house finishing dinner when their TV stopped working. They walked out the back door to check wiring and noticed the front of the house engulfed in flames. Their next-door neighbors weren’t home, but their two dogs were. The man rescued the dogs and watched their house burn.
The family did not have renter’s insurance.