The fire did heavy damage to the house at 93 River Street. The roof at the rear corner of 95 River, at right above and left below, also briefly caught fire. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
No one was injured as Red Bank volunteer firefighters quickly knocked down a blaze that had tongues of flame shooting out of two sides of a house Thursday morning.
The occupants of the home at 93 River Street, between Shrewsbury and Leighton Avenues were not present when police on patrol noticed smoke and called in the fire at around 11:15, said police Chief Darren McConnell.
Firefighters on the scene said the fire was largely confined to a second-floor bedroom at the front of the house, with no flames visible downstairs.
The fire “just licked” the corner of the roof of the house next door, at 95 River, but firefirefighters immediately stopped that from spreading, said one volunteer.
Second Depuity Fire Chief Pete DeFazio said no firefighters had been injured.
As of noon, the fire was under control, with firefighters still working on hotspots in the roof and walls.
Information on the ownership of the house was not immediately available. One of its occupants, called to the scene by neighbors, declined to be interviewed.