UPDATED: House Fire Started in Electric Socket

Two residents and the family pets escaped injury from an accidential electrical fire at a residence on Dunbar Street Thursday morning.

The fire, which broke out shortly after 8 a.m., "appears electrical and accidental," according to Borough Fire Chief Peter Glogolich.

According to the Chatham Police Department, when fire and police officials arrived at the scene there were visible flames and smoke.

Police said a smoke detector alerted the residents to the fire. A smoke detector alerted the residents to the fire. Homeowner Margaret Black discovered the fire in a bedroom on the second floor.

"I walked into the guest room and saw flames behind the bed," Black said.

She and her husband, Doug, evacuated the house safely, along with the family's two pet dogs. Two children were at Chatham High School at the time the fire started. A third child is away at college, Black said.

Police said the fire inspector believes an outlet in the guest bedroom ignited the bedding leading to the blaze.

Glogolich said "the fire was under control in a few minutes."

Firefighters used a Class A Foam (CAF) system to extinguish the fire. "The CAF system allows us to get [fires] under control pretty quickly," Glogolich said.

Smoke was still visible from the windows until approximately 8:45 a.m. Glogolich said the room where the fire started was "gutted, nothing salvageable, consumed." The rest of the house has heavy smoke and fire damage, especially on the second floor, Glogolich said.

"No one was hurt," said Bill Nauta, the borough's OEM coordinator.

Firefighters and other emergency personnel remained on the scene until approximately 10:30 a.m.

The Chatham Township Fire Department, Chatham Emergency Squad, Madison Fire Department and American Red Cross also responded to the scene. The Florham Park Fire Department provided station coverage.