Two injured, dog dies, in Jersey City fire

By Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal
January 03, 2010, 3:03PM

Two people, including a firefighter, were injured, and a dog died, in a one-alarm blaze on Graham Street in the Jersey City Heights last night.

A phone charger ignited a mattress causing a basement fire that killed a dog and left two people injured last night, Jersey City fire officials said.

Firefighters were called to a fire at 6:15 p.m. in a basement bedroom of a one-family, two-story house at 70 Graham St., Jersey City Fire Director Armando Roman said.

After finding his son's mattress on fire, the owner of the house suffered second-degree burns to his chest and the top of his left shoulder when he tried to put it out.

The fire was declared under control at 6:39 p.m. after causing heavy damage to the basement and minimal damage to the first floor, Roman said.

The family was allowed to return home, he said.

Firefighter Vincent Kenny, of Engine Company 11 was taken to Jersey City Medical Center after suffering chest pains, Roman said. Kenny remained hospitalized today, Roman said.

Jersey City firefighter Vincent Kenny, who suffered chest pains while battling a one-alarm fire in the Jersey City Heights last night, was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center. One of the family's two dogs died in the fire, apparently succumbing to smoke, Roman said.

Fire investigators say the fire was accidental, caused by a cell phone charger left on the bed.

"Most people take for granted that phone chargers are safe," Roman said. "This is another example of how these chargers should never be left on a bed because they can overheat and cause a fire."