By Berit Ollestad
Morristown Firefighter Jimmy Stanton, who was overcome by smoke at a fire on Sunday, has been released from the hospital and will return to duty this week, Acting Fire Chief Robert Flanagan said on Tuesday.
“Jimmy is a seasoned firefighter with over 20 years of experience. I’m just grateful that it was something relatively minor and that Jimmy will be back with us on his next scheduled shift,” said the chief.
While fighting a blaze in a townhouse on 7 Thomas Trail on Sunday, Jimmy’s mask was dislodged by a hose line. He was kept overnight at Morristown Medical Center for observation.
The chief said the cause of the blaze in the unoccupied residence has not yet been determined.
Sunday was a busy day for his department, which also responded to an aircraft fire at Morristown Municipal Airport and then lowered Santa Claus from the roof of the Century 21 department store to rapturous roars from children assembled below.
The chief said things could have played out differently at Thomas Trail if neighbors had not promptly dialed 911, and if Morristown, Morris Township and Madison police had not arrived so quickly to the 2:30 pm fire.
What made the blaze particularly challenging was the close proximity of other dwellings, the chief said. Firefighters had the fire contained by about 4:30 pm.
“Not only do I want to commend my guys, I’d like to give accolades to the residents in the community that took the initiative to place the call in the first place,” Chief Flanagan said. He added that these townhomes have fire-resistant materials called “fire stops” in walls and floors that helped prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent units.
