41°
The three-alarm fire broke out in the basement of two-story, wood-frame home at the top of a long, steep driveway across Hamburg Turnpike from the Stumble Inn in Bloomingdale around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30.
One victim was found moments after firefighters arrived. The other was discovered shortly before the fire was declared under control around 9:30 a.m., responders at the scene said.
A cause hadn't yet been officially determined.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, Bloomingdale Police Chief Joseph Borell and Bloomingdale Fire Chief Eric Tuason collectively confirmed the deaths without identifying the victims other than as women. No other information was provided in their brief release.
A neighbor who called 911 told CBS2 New York that he and his wife first saw thick smoke and then "flames coming out of the back of the house, maybe 10-15 feet high."
They saw similar flames shoot out the front porch moments later, he said.
SEE: Witnesses describe harrowing scene as firefighters battled house fire in Bloomingdale, N.J.
Bloomingdale firefighters thanked their colleagues from Butler, Kinnelon, Riverdale, Pompton Lakes, Wanaque, Ringwood, West Milford and Pequannock "for helping us on scene, Paterson for filling our air bottles and Wayne, Franklin Lakes and Oakland for firehouse coverage.
"Also, thank you to Bloomingdale police , PCSD, Bloomingdale DPW/Water, Butler electric and PSEG for all their ground support," the department added, while also citing "ALS and BLS units for rehab and helping transport one of our members with [a] minor injury. Thank you to our auxiliary for food and water and The Stumble Inn for shelter from the heat."
Valdes and the chiefs, meanwhile, wrote: "The investigation remains active and ongoing. More information will be released once it becomes available."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Saddle Brook-Elmwood Park and receive free news updates.
