UPDATE: Officials Say Hiawatha Home Fire Likely Was Accidental

Fire officials say a likely was the result of an accident. The fire was reported shortly before 1 p.m., and was brought quickly under control. There were no injuries.

"Nothing was suspicious," said Lake Hiawatha Fire District 4 Chief R.J. Briant, relaying preliminary findings of the ongoing probe into what caused the conflagration. "There was no arson. It was accidental. The fire was out in 20 minutes. The whole thing was pretty much wrapped up and contained within the hour."

Parsippany Police closed the intersection at Seminole and Lake Shore Drive during the fire and cleanup. The area is now open again for traffic.

Briant said Helen Green, who tax records show as the owner of the Seminole Avenue home, was not present at the time of the incident. Painters were working in the house, which the chief said was getting final touches after being refurbished after being severely damaged in the August floods. 

According to neighbor and friend Doris DiBernardo, Green, who she said is elderly and lived at the Seminole Ave. address alone, had been staying with a relative since Irene hit Parsippany last summer. DiBernardo said Green was slated to return home finally at the end of the week. 

Now, the front of the house displays a bright red Parsippany-Troy Hills Unsafe Structure Notice declaring the home as "unsafe for human occupancy."

Fire Chief Briant said Green's son made an appearance at the scene and spoke with officials there.

The painters told authorities that they saw flames in the house's attached garage, he added, saying that officials believe the fire was generated from the structure connected to the side of the building. The garage and its contents were charred. Signs of damage are visible on the home's roof and in the back of the house.

A representative of Jersey City Power and Light was present to disconnect power from the house, however, fire officials said there was nothing to indicate that electricity or a propane gas tank on the property had any part in the blaze.

Parsippany Fire Districts 4, 5 and 6 responded to the scene, as well as the Boonton Fire Department. Also responding were Rockaway Neck and Par-Troy first aid squads, as well as the Parsippany Police Department.

"They really did a phenomenal job," said Briant.