Fire Department Responds to Salter Place Fire

A kitchen fire in a home on Salter Place in Maplewood this evening caused extensive heat and smoke damage to the home.

Maplewood Fire Chief Joseph Richardella, who was on scene, explained that the family was not at home at the time of the fire. The home owners are staying with neighbors tonight as firefighters continue to ventilate smoke from the basement and clean uo the scene. Two cats did perish in the fire.

All Maplewood Fire Department apparati responded to the fire, with mutual aid coming in from South Orange, Millburn and Irvington. The fire, which broke out some time after 8 p.m., was under control shortly after 9 p.m. Although the fire appeared to originate in the kitchen, the cause of the fire is still under an investigation headed by Deputy Chief Carl Kling.

No firefighters were injured in combatting the blaze.