BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
OLD TAPPAN, N.J.—Five family members escaped without injuries when a fire broke out in their Grant Avenue home in Old Tappan on the morning after Christmas.
Fire officials reported that homeowner Angelo Mazza, owner of the newly renovated home at 12 Grant Avenue, near Orangeburgh Road, said upon rising Dec. 26 about 7 a.m. he smelled smoke and quickly woke up his wife, 1-year-old twins and sister-in-law, who had stayed the night, and exited the house.
Due to a years-long renovation, the Mazzas only recently received their home certificate of occupancy to move back in following construction of an addition. From videos posted online, it appeared the fire quickly engulfed the home.
“The family got out of there in the nick of time,” said Mayor John Kramer later on Dec. 26.
Kramer wound up in the hospital later that morning himself when he tripped over a sidewalk by his home upon returning from the fire, he said, suffering possible fractured ribs.
“It’s terrible what happened,” he added, noting the family were “residents for quite some time.”
Saw flames upon waking
Mazza reportedly told a TV news station that he and his wife woke up, heard crackling noises, and saw flames coming from the porch area. He said then they decided to get everyone out of the house immediately.
Mazza’s sister-in-law, Maria Foti, told reporters that although the fire department was there quickly, it apparently took some time until water was put onto the fire.
The fire chief told them that the nearest hydrant on Orangeburgh Road was not working.
According to Old Tappan Volunteer Fire Department Chief David Keil, about 50 firefighters from Norwood, River Vale, Hillsdale and Orangeburgh, N.Y. assisted at the scene.
Fire cause unknown
Although the Mazzas speculated to reporters that holiday lights on the porch may have caused the fire, fire department officials were investigating the cause of the blaze. No further details on the fire’s possible cause were released.
Mazza co-owns One Fitness in Northvale with Rob DeBrino, and many neighbors expressed shock about the sudden misfortune affecting the well-known family.
A GoFundMe page set up by a friend reported almost $61,861.00 in donations by the morning of Dec. 27 with a projected goal of $70,000. The GoFundMe page was flooded with messages of support, with at least 50 comments and over 1,500 site visitors sharing news of the online fundraising effort.
In addition to raising funds online, donations of clothing and food can be dropped off at One Fitness, 100 Stonehouse Court, Northvale.
Sizes needed include adult male medium shorts, large shirts, size 8 1/2 shoes, medium female yoga pants, medium shirts, size 8 shoes and 18-24-month-old clothing for the twin boys.