Fire Dept. Handles Minor Fire, Down Power Lines, Trees in Storm

Although the recent snowstorm caused 17 down power lines and five residents to receive fallen tree damage, Fire Chief James Bombace said it wasn't so bad.

"Other parts of the county got hit considerably harder and had more incidents," he said. "It was the deepest [snowfall] but not deep enough to impede access to fire hydrants."

Three trees fell causing damage to five houses. The Building Department told Ridgewood Patch Feb. 26 of fallen trees on Hamilton and Heights Roads.

An additional incident occurred on Hillcrest Road, Bombace said. No one was injured in the incidents, and the Building Department reported roof damages.

Across the village 17 incidents of down fire lines were reported, Bombace said. All were minor and caused by the snow and wind.

During the storm Feb. 25, the fire department also responded to a fire on a multiple-family home.

An electric light caused a curtain to catch fire at 241 Hope St. at 6:48 p.m. The resident put out the fire to a front window, trim and curtain with an extinguisher. Upon arrival, fire officials helped remove the damaged trim.

The curtain covered the light, and when it was turned on, the curtain was inflamed.

Other fire news:

The Ridgewood Fire Department responded to 56 requests for assistance from Feb. 21 to Feb. 27.

Description/Number of Calls

• Fire of a multiple-family home: 1    
• EMT calls: 15    
• Natural gas leak: 1
• Carbon monoxide incident: 2    
• Power lines down: 17
• Arcing, shorted electrical equipment: 2    
• Building or structure weakened or collapsed: 5    
• Smoke or odor investigation/removal: 5        
• Alarm malfunctions: 5
• Accidental alarms: 3