By: Tracie Carter
Mark Musella released details regarding the investigation into a two-alarm house fire that claimed the life of a Carlstadt resident last week.
The fire occurred on Friday, January 16, 2026, at approximately 4 p.m. at a multi-family home on 3rd Street in Carlstadt.
Carlstadt Police and the Carlstadt Fire Department, assisted by several neighboring fire departments through mutual aid, responded to the scene and worked to extinguish the blaze.
During initial response and fire suppression efforts, first responders located an adult male victim on the second floor of the residence.
The victim was later identified as 67-year-old Joseph A. Poling, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Carlstadt Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad and requested assistance from the Bergen County Arson Task Force. Detectives and arson investigators from the Prosecutor’s Office responded and initiated a joint investigation alongside the Carlstadt Police Department, Carlstadt Fire Department, and the Carlstadt Fire Prevention Bureau.
According to investigators, the examination conducted by the Bergen County Arson Squad and local fire officials determined that the fire was not suspicious in nature.