The Livingston Fire Department responded to a motor vehicle accident, a report of wires arcing, a power problem at Temple B’nai Abraham, and a washing machine issue. Fire officials also investigated several reports of gas and odors, all of which turned out to be unfounded.
Car Accident
On Thursday, December 7, firefighters went to the Container Store at 372 West Mt. Pleasant Avenue, at the Route 10 traffic circle, on a report of a car hitting a building.
Upon arrival, they found a vehicle had gone into a plate glass window there. Although the window sustained significant damage, there was no damage to the building, as determined by members of the Livingston Building Department. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
According to police, the car was a 2018 Mazda driven by a 77 year old Madison woman. She told police her brakes had failed as she was parking her car, and she could not stop the vehicle from hitting the glass. She was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Power Problem
Earlier on December 7, fire officials went to Temple B’nai Abraham at 300 East Northfield Road to investigate a power issue there. The problem was traced back to a partial phase out of power in the area, which can cause larger equipment such as HVAC motors and transformers to overheat.
Washing Machine Issue
That same day, firefighters went to Cedar Street Commons, 156 East Cedar Street, on a report of an overloaded washing machine in an apartment there. The resident requested that the appliance be checked because of a burning odor; however, responding firefighters could not detect any odor. The machine had been turned off at the breaker by maintenance personnel.
Arcing Wires
On Monday, December 11, firefighters responded to 34 Ashwood Drive, where electrical wires were reported to be arcing in a tree. They found a small branch had fallen on primary electrical wires, and notified Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) to make repairs.
Light Shorting Out
The next day, Tuesday, December 12, firefighters went to Old Navy in the Livingston Mall on a report of a light fixture shorting out due to a water leak. They found that the track lighting breaker in the panel had tripped. The store manager was advised to keep the breaker off and to notify an electrician, as well as to look into having the roof repaired.
Unfounded Reports of Gas Odors
The volunteer Fire Department also responded to four unfounded reports of gas odors.
On Wednesday, December 6, fire officials investigated a report of a gas odor near the garage of 4 Fernwood Drive. No readings were registered on the Fire Department’s gas meter, but PSE&G was notified as a precaution.
A December 8 report of a gas odor at the intersection of Broadlawn and Ridgewood Drives was investigated, but the area was checked and no problem was found.
That same day, firefighters responded to two reports of gas odors coming from stove tops, at 9 Midway Drive and at 59 West Cedar Street. In both cases, the area was checked, but no readings registered on the Department’s gas meter; however, PSE&G was called in to both locations to confirm.
In addition, firefighters went to 37 Wardell Road on Wednesday, December 6, on a report that someone was burning leaves in their backyard, which violates state law. They found, however, that only wood was being burned.
False Alarms
The Fire Department’s remaining calls were false alarms.
On December 6, a pull station activation resulted in a false alarm at the Eisenhower Conference Center at 290 West Mt. Pleasant Avenue. A fire alarm called firefighters to 41 Berkleley Place, but they found nothing amiss. An alarm at Newark Academy, 91 South Orange Avenue, was cancelled prior to the Fire Department’s arrival. There was also a false alarm that day at the Cooperman Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, 200 South Orange Avenue.
Burned food set off a false alarm at 568 South Livingston Avenue on Friday, December 8. A false alarm transmission at 40 Hickory Place that same day was cancelled prior to firefighters’ arrival.
Steam set off a false alarm at 6 Split Rock Road on Sunday,December 10. A system malfunction set off a fire alarm transmission at the Kushner Hebrew Academy, 110 South Orange Avenue.
Adetector malfunction was blamed for a false alarm at 77 West Mt. Pleasant Avenue on Sunday, December 10. That same day, there was a false fire alarm activation in a bedroom at 24 Vanderbilt Drive.
