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Crime & Safety

Fire Rips Through Cumberland Street Home

It took firefighters one hour and 40 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

The Westfield Fire Department responded to a three-alarm structure fire at 512 Cumberland Street just before Midnight Saturday evening.

Firefighters, dispatched at 11:48 pm, arrived to heavy fire conditions at the two-family home, with fire venting out of the three sides of the two family home.

“Three occupants of the dwelling escaped,” Westfield Fire Chief Daniel Kelly said. "One made it down the interior staircase; the two first floor tenants had to egress from a first floor window."

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It took firefighters one hour and 40 minutes to bring the blaze under control. No firefighter injuries were reported. 

“The area of origin appears to be in the basement and it does not appear to be a suspicious fire,” Kelly said.

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All three occupants, two adult females and one adult male, were take by Westfield Rescue Squad to Overlook Medical Center where they were treated and released early Sunday morning. One of the three occupants was later relocated by the American Red Cross. 

Two other occupants of the two family home were not at home at the time of the fire.

The fire caused significant structural damage to the two-family dwelling, which is untenable and has been declared an unsafe structure by construction officials. Kelly said it appears that the home will have to be razed or will require extensive structural rehabilitation.

The fire required the assistance of multiple fire companies from Union County and the Union County EMS task force.

The fire is currently under investigation by the Westfield Fire Department and the Union County Fire Department Task Force.

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