Family Escapes Early Morning Blaze in Teaneck

Five people were hospitalized and two families forced from their homes after flames ripped through a house at the corner of Ester Avenue and Beverly Road early Saturday, according to witnesses and officials.

Rosario Paita was asleep on the first floor of the two-family home and woke up to find thick smoke pouring from the upstairs apartment. She quickly gathered her young children and escaped around 5:30 a.m.

"It was a lot of fire," she said, adding flames were shooting from the windows. "I took my children…I didn't care about my things."

Hearing loud coughing, neighbor Cathy Carratura rushed to help the mother and children forced outside in the frigid temperatures.

"I ran to the house and grabbed the children and told them to get everybody out of the house," Carratura said. "It's natural. I didn't do anything heroic."

Paita and her family were not injured and resting in Carratura's living room as firefighters worked at the fire-wrecked home more than an hour after the flames broke out.

Although the fire was mostly contained to the second floor, Paita said she was told her first-floor apartment sustained major damage.

The Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps brought five people from the upstairs unit to Holy Name Medical Center with smoke inhalation and other related injuries, according to emergency responders.

"The five from upstairs, two men, two women and an infant had been exposed to heavy smoke and products of combustion," said TVAC's Larry Robertson. "One man had a small burn and most were covered with soot. They had also been momentarily exposed to the early-morning cold."

Seven other people from the first floor also fled the fire, according to officials. None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening

Four Teaneck ambulances were staffed overall, with three at the scene through the height of the fire, Robertson said. Ambulance crews also responded to an unrelated medical emergency on Degraw Avenue.

Teaneck fire engines, ladder and rescue trucks were on the scene within minutes following the call for an oven fire, Fire Chief Anthony Verley reported. Flames had spread from the kitchen-area to an attic room above, escalating to a two-alarm fire.

Two township firefighters also managed to rescue the upstairs family's dog from the attic.

“Once again we saw the value of the quick response by the neighborhood engine company," the chief said. “With our rescue truck in service, all primary tasks were performed quickly.”

A crew from the rescue truck also helped to cover valuables with plastic to prevent smoke and water damage, he said.

Battalion Chief Joe Berchtold, who was in command at the scene, noted the residents were woken up by smoke detectors.

"Occupants should always make sure they have working smoke detectors and a fire escape plan with a meeting place,” Berchtold said.

In addition to Teaneck crews, firefighters from Hackensack, Englewood and Bergenfield were at the scene. Bogota and Ridgefield Park fire departments stood by to assist with other fire calls in town.

The cause of the fire was under investigation Saturday.

First posted 7:56 a.m. Last updated 11:15 a.m. Check back for updates on this breaking news story.

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