Staff Writer

The cause of a basement fire that caused smoke and heat damage to an unoccupied house at 72 Lawrence Ave., Dumont, was still under investigation last week, fire officials said.

The fire call came in about 9 p.m. on June 23, and was reported by a New Milford police officer who was on patrol in that borough and saw smoke on nearby Lawrence Avenue, Fire Chief Jim Molinaro said.

"There were no injuries and the blaze was extinguished within 15 minutes," he said.

Molinaro said the fire was "contained to the basement," but caused smoke and heat damage to the entire upstairs area of the house.

Police Chief Brian Venezio said the cause of the fire "appears to be suspicious," but would not elaborate.

Venezio did say that the homeowner was contacted.

Mutual aid was called in to fight the blaze.

Molinaro said the Bergenfield and Cresskill fire departments covered the borough and a FAST rescue team from the Tenafly Fire Department also responded.

The Dumont Detective Bureau and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad are both investigating the cause of the blaze.