Blaze that started in resident's fire pit destroys West Milford home

WEST MILFORD — A brush fire that originated in a backyard fire pit claimed a home on the slopes overlooking Greenwood Lake and sent two firefighters to the hospital on Saturday.

Michael Moscatello, West Milford's fire marshal, said shortly before 4 p.m., as the fire scene was still active, that the early-afternoon blaze damaged three homes. Two sustained minor exterior heat damage, he said, and the third was a total loss.

Moscatello said the fire started in a nearby fire pit, which an area resident was using to burn wood and debris.

"The brush caught fire and rapidly spread up the mountain," he said. "We are presently operating with numerous mutual aid departments from New York and New Jersey."

Two firefighters were taken from the scene to Chilton Medical Center in Pequannock. One was experiencing chest pains. The other suffered a knee injury. A third firefighter was treated at the scene for a head injury, Moscatello said.

The fire marshal said he was still investigating the fire with officials from the West Milford Police Department and the State Forest Fire Service.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Blaze in West Milford NJ fire pit spreads and destroys home