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A passing motorist summoned firefighters to the 40,000-square-foot house, on a dead-end cul-de-sace at 1 Sandstone Ridge, around 4:30 Friday morning.
Upper Saddle River firefighters said heavy fire already was coming from the garage side of the 2½-story house when they went in. It rolled across the attic, forcing them out the front door, they said.
The fire went to four alarms because of limited water supply. Units from Box 54, Allendale, Franklin Lakes, Ho-Ho-Kus, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montvale, Ramsey, Saddle River, Waldwick, Woodcliff Lake and Wyckoff either worked the fire or covered firehouses.
Before long, two tower ladders, a ladder pipe, and several handlines were at work.
No injuries were reported in the fire, which Upper Saddle River fire officials said took about two hours to control. Still, it wasn’t until 9 a.m. before the last unit rolled out.
By then, the roof and attic of the 4-bedroom, eight-bathroom house — which records show was sold for $1.7 million when it was built 10 years ago — had been burned off.
Unconfirmed reports are that the mid-60s couple who recently sold the house were just divorced.
PHOTOS: Courtesy Upper Saddle River FD
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