Fire caused by heater
at century-old home
Blaze brought under

JEFF GRANIT staff Flames shoot from the second floor of a century-old home in Monroe Tuesday.

control in 15 minutes; confined to bedroom

BY TARA PETERSEN

Staff Writer

MONROE — An electrical fire caused severe damage to an old house on Bordentown Turnpike Tuesday evening.

The fire was discovered by a resident, who had returned from the store to find the blaze in progress inside the house, according to Fire Chief Richard Hayes of Monroe’s District One.

"He saw flames flickering through the window and ran to the neighbor’s house to call 911," Hayes said yesterday.

Firefighters responded around 6:20 p.m. to find the fire in a second-floor bedroom.

"When we got there, there was heavy fire in the one room," Hayes said.

The house was virtually empty, giving the appearance that no one lived there, Hayes said.

"There was little or no furniture in the house, and the propane was turned off [to the home]. There was only electricity," he said.

Monroe Police Detective Sgt. Lawrence Linke said the man who reported the fire was Thomas Jordon, the son of the homeowner.

Hayes estimated the house dates back more than 100 years.

Hayes said that the fire started from an electrical space heater that was being used in the second-floor room.

Firefighters brought the fire under control within 15 minutes, he said, and after about an hour it was completely extinguished.

"The fire was confined to the room of origin," Hayes said.

The house sustained major damage but was not destroyed, according to Hayes.

"It would need extensive repairs. There was smoke and water damage throughout the house," he said.

The fire chief said the frigid weather played a major factor in the working conditions.

"In the extreme weather conditions, the water turned to ice pretty quickly," Hayes said. "A lot of guys were falling or slipping on the ice."

All three Monroe fire districts responded, along with the township’s police and first aid departments and the Helmetta Fire Department.