WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – A cat and bird died Thursday in a house fire in Washington Township.
At 4:11 p.m., township police responded to a residence on Beacon Hill Road for a report of a possible structure fire, police said.
When Officer Andrew Tesori arrived on scene, he observed an active fire in the basement of the residence and smoke billowing out of the home, police said.
The Washington Township Fire Companies, Chester Fire Company and Califon Boro Fire Company arrived on scene and extinguished the fire, police said.
A search of the residence determined that the home owner was not home at the time of the fire, police said.
The Long Valley First Aid Squad established a rehabilitation tent for fire personnel along with several house animals that were removed from the residence, police said.
The animals that were removed from the residence were two dogs, a cat, a bird and two Chinchillas. The Long Valley First Aid Squad later transported all the animals to the Long Valley Animal Hospital, police said.
The cat and bird later succumbed as a result of smoke inhalation. The dogs and Chinchillas were expected to survive, police said.
The Washington Township Building Inspector along with the Washington Township Fire Inspector arrived on scene and deemed the residence uninhabitable, police said.
Also assisting at the scene was the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and Detective Corporal Roger Garrison from the Washington Township Detective Bureau.
The origin of the fire is believed to be the basement of the residence and is currently under investigation, police said.
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By: Jay Edwards Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook
