During the past week, the Livingston Fire Department responded to two motor vehicle accidents, an oven fire, a downed tree, and reports of burning and gas odors.Seven-Car Pile-UpOn Tuesday, December 21, the Fire Department responded to a seven-car accident on Route 280. The LFD performed a stand-by operation until state police arrived on the scene.Car into Utility PoleOn Friday, December 24, firefighters responded to the scene of an accident on East Cedar Street, during which a pick-up truck hit a utility pole head-on. The impact snapped the pole and broke a fire hydrant, causing water to rush down the street. Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) personnel were on the scene, as were employees from the Livingston Water Department, who shut down the water to the hydrant. According to Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Francione, the driver of the pick-up was not injured in the accident, although the truck sustained significant damage and had to be towed from the scene.Oven FireFirefighters went to 7 Thames Drive on December 22 on a report of an oven fire. They arrived to find that the electric oven’s element had shorted out, causing the element to arc. They shut power off to the appliance.Tree DownOn Wednesday, December 22, fire officials went to 279 West Mt. Pleasant Avenue after a large tree came down in the home’s backyard, possibly taking down electrical wires. They found that no wires had come down, although the tree damaged a fence.Burning OdorAlso on December 22, firefighters went to Nero’s Grille on South Livingston Avenue on a report of a burning odor. They found a problem with a roof top heating unit, and shut down power to it.Gas Odor, Carbon MonoxideFire Department volunteers also went to 3 Stratford Drive, where a gas odor was reported on December 24. They discovered a malfunction in one of the home’s furnace units, which caused carbon monoxide (CO) to accumulate in the house. They registered a reading of 25 parts per million of CO on the department’s meter, and vented the house. They also shut down all of the home’s furnace units.
