Trending Topics

Flashover, mayday, bailout: 10 N.J. firefighters injured in house fire

A brief water loss triggered a flashover and mayday during a house fire in Hillsdale

By Jeff Goldman
nj.com

HILLSDALE, N.J. — Ten Hillsdale firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling a house fire in the Bergen County borough early Tuesday morning, the chief said.

The fire on Ellen Court broke out around 3:45 a.m. on the rear deck of a home and spread into the attic, Chief Bill Farrell said in a statement.

| READ NEXT: Chiefs, is your department prepared for a mayday incident?

While working to extinguish the fire, firefighters briefly lost their water supply. That led to a “flashover,” which occurs when all combustible materials in an area quickly ignite.

A mayday was called and all firefighters inside were then forced to exit the house, Farrell said.

While emergency workers treated the injured firefighters, other firefighters knocked down the blaze. All residents were evacuated safely when firefighters arrived, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The fire is not considered suspicious, the prosecutor’s office said.

Trending
In partnership with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., the International Association of Fire Chiefs announced the 2026 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees at Fire-Rescue International in Kansas City
Learn the full history of firefighter decon, from dirty gear to modern-day protocols that save lives
San Bernardino County Medic Engine 313 arrives to find heavy smoke and flames coming from a single-story house in Victorville
A judge upheld an arbitrator’s order reinstating the Kansas City firefighter with back pay and a three-day suspension after a pumper crash that killed three people

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit nj.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Company News
ImageTrend announced a leadership transition as the company accelerates AI-powered product development and expands its software platform for EMS, fire, healthcare and public safety agencies