By: Richard L. Smith
Firefighters are investigating whether hoarding conditions contributed to a fast-moving house fire that broke out Thursday night in Union County.
The multi-alarm blaze was reported just before 10:50 p.m. in the 300 block of Hemlock Avenue in Garwood, prompting a large emergency response after multiple 911 calls reported a structure fire.
When crews arrived, they encountered heavy flames tearing through the upper levels of a 2½-story home.
Firefighters quickly stretched multiple hose lines and began an aggressive interior attack.
As conditions worsened, incident commanders struck second and third alarms to bring in additional manpower from surrounding departments.
Officials on scene reported challenging conditions inside the home, including what appeared to be hoarding, particularly in the attic area where the fire was most intense.
Crews focused efforts there while working to contain the blaze.
Firefighters were able to knock down a significant portion of the fire within about an hour, though flare-ups and heavy fire conditions persisted as operations continued.
One person sustained injuries in the incident.
Authorities said the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, but further details were not immediately available.
The Garwood Fire Department is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire.
Officials say the investigation remains active, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.