Maplewood Firefighters Extinguish Blaze From Outdoor Fireplace

A fire in outdoor fireplace at a home at 55 Rutgers St. in Maplewood apparently spread to a nearby fence before igniting a one-story garage on the property, the Maplewood Fire Department reported Saturday evening. 

The fire, which was reported at about 6:30 p.m., was quickly extinguished by the fire department acting Deputy Chief John Kozak said. 

"We were there within three minutes," Kozak said later that night. "We stopped it from extending from the garage." 

He said residents had been burning materials in the outdoor brick fireplace.