Two occupants escaped without injury and a cat perished in a fire that destroyed a home early this morning on North Way in the borough, police said.
Shortly after 7 a.m., a neighbor called 911 to report the fire after the homeowners, Ieva and Joseph Madden, ran out of the house, according to Hopatcong Lt. Meghan McCluskey.
Ieva Madden said she woke up and went into the living room when she saw smoke, according to McCluskey. She woke her husband, Joseph, and they evacuated the home.
While leaving the single family, bi-level home, the homeowners took two of their cats but were unable to find the third. McCluskey said the third cat was found deceased.
The home is destroyed, McCluskey said. The fire does not appear to be suspicious at this time and the cause remains under investigation, she added.