Fire Department Praises Homeowner for Doing One Crucial Thing During a Deck Fire
A house fire is one of the biggest fears for any homeowner. Fires can do more than damage a home—they can also wreak havoc on finances and destroy irreplaceable, sentimental belongings.
Thanks to the quick action of one New Jersey fire department, there’s at least one homeowner who doesn’t have to worry about most of that. Montclair-NJ Fire Department posted photos on Facebook from an Oct. 13 fire that started at the back of an Elmwood Avenue home.
Fortunately, crews were able to get there fast enough to contain the fire so that it never made it from the deck to the home. But, in an unusual twist, the fire department is thanking the homeowner for something that they did to help with the fire.
And their message isn’t just to the resident on Elmwood, but to all homeowners who find themselves in a similar situation.
A Deck Fire Was Stopped in its Tracks
Multiple companies responded to the call for a reported structure fire, according to the post, which said the homeowner was the one who called it in.
“Engine 1 arrived to find fire and smoke at the rear of the home and stretched a line around back, where crews found the fire burning on the deck,” a caption on the photos from the fire explained. “Truck 1 opened up the deck to check for fire spreading underneath, and Engine 3 established a water supply off a nearby hydrant.”
Once they were set up with water, the fire department said they were able to quickly knock down the fire without any injuries, and the Fire Investigation Unit was looking into the cause.
The Fire Department Thanked the Homeowner For Following Fire Safety Protocol
After the fire was taken care of, the fire department said that they needed to give a special shoutout to the homeowner. “Credit where it’s due—the occupant did exactly the right thing: got out, stayed out, and called 911. That is always the correct order of operations,” the post said.
In 2025, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) said there were an estimated 1.38 million fires in the U.S. Those fires were responsible for an estimated 3,920 deaths and 11,780 injuries (not including firefighters and other first responders), highlighting how important it is for everyone to follow the advice of the Montclair Fire Department when it comes to the order of operation.
Hopefully this story spreads more awareness about how homeowners and residents should respond during a fire, especially when it may not seem like it’s such a big deal at first.
