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Update: Faulty Electrical Strip Sparked Fire That Killed Paramus Man, 78

PARAMUS, N.J. -- (UPDATE/4:30 p.m.): A faulty electrical outlet strip ignited a fire that killed a 78-year-old Paramus man, authorities said Monday afternoon.

At the scene.

At the scene.

Photo Credit: DAILY VOICE photo
The fast-moving fire broke out before 7 a.m.

The fast-moving fire broke out before 7 a.m.

Photo Credit: DAILY VOICE photo
At the scene.

At the scene.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
Responders from several fire and law enforcement agencies converged on the scene.

Responders from several fire and law enforcement agencies converged on the scene.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine

David F. Warde Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene of the 6:30 a.m. first-floor apartment blaze on Forest Avenue, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said.

"Family members living on the second floor were able to flee the burning structure," Grewal said.

They had their pet rabbit with them.

Paramus police "found a heavy smoke and fire condition" in Warde's apartment and then his body soon after, the prosecutor said.

Firefighters needed 45 minutes to knock down the blaze, which blew through the roof of the nearly 65-year-old house at Forest and Brookfield avenues, Fire Chief John Niland said.

Flames broke out on the first floor and quickly spread, gutting one of the apartments and damaging the other.

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Oradell, River Edge, Rochelle Park and Saddle Brook firefighters provided mutual aid.

Daily Voice New Jersey Managing Editor Cecilia Levine contributed to this story.

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PARAMUS, N.J. -- UPDATE: A victim died while a trio of neighbors escaped a fast-moving Paramus house fire with their pet rabbit Monday morning, responders confirmed.

"The resident on the fire side of the two-family house was DOA," a responder told Daily Voice. "A family on the other side escaped with their pet rabbit and called 911."

Firefighters needed 45 minutes to knock down the blaze, which blew through the roof of the nearly 65-year-old house at Forest and Brookfield avenues, Fire Chief John Niland said.

Flames broke out on the first floor and quickly spread, gutting one of the apartments and damaging the other.

Forest Avenue was closed from Route 4 to Howland Avenue.

Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal was preparing a statement. His investigators were at the scene.

Oradell, River Edge, Rochelle Park and Saddle Brook firefighters provided mutual aid.

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