CLIFFSIDE PARK, N.J. - A mother and son ran through flames in a hallway to escape a fast-moving fire in a borough dwelling on the evening of December 16^th. They were both transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with severe burn injuries.

Shortly before 6:30 p.m., local volunteer firefighters were toned out to a reported dwelling fire, which was located at 238 Lawton Ave. Chief of Department Greg Yfantis was first to arrive and reported fire showing from second-floor windows and struck a second-alarm upon arrival. The two residents with burns had self-extricated from the building and were treated by EMS personnel.

It was later reported that the mother had suffered second degree burns, and the son has third-degree burns.

The chief said the woman was frying chicken on the second-floor when grease apparently ignited in the second-floor kitchen, of the multi-family building. The mother unsuccessfully tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher. 

Flames consumed the second-floor and attic area of the two-and-a-half-story wood-frame structure, sending low banking smoke over the neighborhood on a rainy evening. A partial collapse along the second-floor, rear area forced firefighters to go to a defensive operation. Before it was over, tower ladders were used by Cliffside Park and Englewood, a Fairview ladder pipe and a deck gun from Cliffside Park Engine 6.   

Firefighters also protected an apartment house that was separated by a narrow alley on the east side of the fire building.  Firefighters utilized that building's fire escape as well, advancing hose lines through a second-floor hallway, to knock down flames coming from the fire building. Hidden fire in walls and ceiling sections prolong the operation as members open up those areas.    

Additional mutual aid fire companies that operated at the scene included units from Ridgefield, Edgewater, Englewood Cliffs and Leonia.  

The fire was declared under control in about three hours. The Red Cross was assisting displaced residents. In addition, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Arson Squad members were on the scene for an investigation.