Week in Review: Memphis Suit Dismissed, Franklin St. Fire, Rescued Owl

Fire Breaks Out at Bloomfield Apartment Complex

Firefighters from all over Essex County battled a fire that broke out Friday at a Franklin Street apartment complex.

The blaze started in a bedroom of a rear first-floor apartment unit in the four-story complex, around 4 p.m, according to Bloomfield Fire Inspector Tom Wilson. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze was "well advanced" and spread behind the wall up to the fourth floor, said Wilson. One tenant, he said, had to be rescued from a rear fire escape.

$1 Million Memphis the Pit Bull Lawsuit Dismissed

A judge threw out Friday a $1 million civil action lawsuit against the township of Bloomfield that would have brought Memphis the pit bull one step closer to being adopted.

Judge Walter Koprowski dismissed the suit, filed by the Lexus Project on behalf of dog trainers Jeff and Diana Coltenback, after he ruled the Lexus Project did not have legal ownership of Memphis.

Bloomfield Gas Station Accused of Price Gouging

A Bloomfield gas station has been hit with a civil lawsuit accusing it of price gouging in wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Vinny Fuel Corporation, also known as the Delta gas station at 141 Bloomfield Ave., allegedly raised prices 25 percent from $3.19 to $3.99 per gallon during the state of emergency declared Oct. 27. New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs received six consumer complaints about the company.

Bloomfield Avenue Bank Robbed Tuesday

On Tuesday, just before 1 p.m., a suspect entered the Valley National Bank in Belleville passing a note saying “Have gun. Give me money.” This is the second time in almost two years that the bank has been robbed. The suspect is described as Hispanic, wearing a black knit cap with a gray hooded sweatshirt and black pants. No arrests have been made.

Bloomfield DPW Nor'easter-Ready

The Department of Public Work’s trucks were ready with salt and plows as the snow began to fall on Wednesday, Director of Bloomfield's Office of Emergency Management Fred Menzel said. As of Wednesday, there were 5,700 residents in the township still without power.

Man Burned after Cigarette Ignites Gas Can

Bloomfield police officer Jon Singerline found a man, who was not identified, screaming near his burning 2002 Audi on Broad Street and Red Maple Avenue. The Patterson man was severely burned after he lit a cigarette in his car, after obtaining gas for his gas can.

The Bloomfield Fire Department extinguished the burning car. The man suffered severe burns and was treated at the scene by Nutley EMS and a Paramedic Unit from HackensackUMC Moutainside Hospital. He was transported to Saint Barnabas Burn Center in Livingston. 

Owl Rescued from Tree on Sylvan Road

A Great Horned Owl was discovered living in a hollow section of a tree that needed to be cut down after Hurricane Sandy. The workers got a surprise when they saw a pair of eyes gazing at them from inside the tree at 141 Sylvan Road in Bloomfield. The owl was removed unharmed and took flight to find a new home.

Bloomfield Gets New Township Administrator

Monday night, the Bloomfield Township Council voted to approve hiring a new township administrator. Ted Ehrenburg, currently the borough administrator of Bloomingdale in Passaic County, will assume the position in about 2 weeks at a salary of between $150,000 and $180,000, said Mayor Raymond McCarthy.