Livingston's volunteer Fire Department responded to two fires this past week, a garbage truck fire and a small fire in a commercial water heater in a hotel.
Garbage Truck Fire
On Wednesday, January 18, firefighters extinguished a garbage truck fire at Town Hall.
Firefighters arrived to find the truck's rear right brakes burning. The flames were promptly extinguished without incident. The vehicle was left on site to be repaired by the garbage collection company.
Water Heater Fire
On Tuesday afternoon, January 24, firefighters went to the Westminster Hotel on Route 10. A large commercial water heater had ruptured in the basement. The lack of water in the heater then caused the unit's electronic heating elements to continue to increase in temperature and then ignite the insulation and wiring.
Fire damage was contained to the water heater. There was water on the floor in the boiler room, and a smoke condition in the basement area. The building was ventilated, and electricalso ity and water turned ou to the unit.
The building was not evacuated, and Fire Chief Chris Mullin spoke to the management about the importance of evacuating a building in such a case.
Smoke Condition
On Saturday, January 21, the Livingston Fire Department responded to a report of a burning odor and smoke condition in the basement of 50 Sykes Avenue. Fire.ghters traced the problem to an electrical box for the furnace which had shorted out.
Power and gas were shut off to the furnace, and the homeowner was advised to call a furnace repair company.
Carbon Monoxide Calls
The Fire Department also responded to three carbon monxide (CO) related calls.
OnThursday, January 19, the homeowner at 70 Lafayette Drive called the Fire Department because the home’s CO detector had activated. Although firefighters registered no reading on the Department’s CO meter, the home unit showed a reading of 215 parts per million (PPM). Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) personnel were called to the scene.
Fire officials went to 3 Dorrien Road on Sunday, January 22, on a CO alarm transmission. They checked the house with the Department’s meter, which registered a reading of 42 PPM. The problem was traced to HVAC equipment in the attic. PSE&G personnel were called to the scene.
That same day, fire officials investigated a report of a natural gas odor and possible CO issue at 10 Manor Road. They found that the home’s water boiler was not venting properly, and PSE&G was called in.
Boiler Problem
Another boiler problem on Sunday brought firefighters to 229 East Hobart Gap Road. The boiler was shut down and PSE&G was notified.
False Alarms
The Fire Department also recorded three false alarms. On Friday, January 20, a fire alarm at 5 Mohawk Drive was cancelled prior to firefighters’ arrival. That same day, smoke from cooking activated a fire alarm at 49 North Ridge Road. On Saturday, January 21, a fire alarm transmission at the Crystal Plaza catering facility was cancelled prior to the arrival of Fire Department volunteers.
