Fire Destroys Vacant Bradley Gardens Home

No one was injured in a two-alarm fire that gutted a vacant Bradley Gardens home early Friday morning.

More than 80 firefighters battled the Oak Street blaze, which began at about 1:30 a.m., according to North Branch Fire Chief David Hickson.

A large volume of smoke and fire was seen emanating from the Cape Cod-style home when Bradley Gardens Fire Chief Jamie Brown arrived, Hickson said. Additional firefighters were called to the scene from Country Hills, Green Knoll and North Branch.


Two additions to the home that left voids in the walls hid and spread the fire, Hickson said. Firefighters battled through blackout conditions to extinguish the blaze and ventilate the home, Hickson said. Firefighters remained on the scene for two hours, he said.

While the home was vacant, neighbors told firefighters there may have been cats living inside, Hickson said. However, none were immediately found, he said.

None of the neighboring homes were damaged and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

In addition to the fire companies and Bridgewater Police, the Bradley Gardens Rescue Squad, Somerset County Office of Emergency Management and Bridgewater Township Fire Officials Office responded to the scene.