The one-story brick ranch house was a total loss as crews from several agencies battled the blaze for hours.
Firefighters from multiple agencies battled a blaze for several hours early Sunday at a home in Liberty Township.
Mountain Lake Fire Co. Chief Frank Jalosky said the fire began shortly before 6:30 a.m. at 51 Quenby Mountain Road. A female homeowner -- the only person at the home -- woke up to the sound of a loud bang and glass breaking, Jalosky said.
She then walked outside and saw the single-story brick ranch house fully engulfed, Jalosky said, noting flames were shooting out of the roof. The woman had difficulty breathing and was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
"The house is 100 percent lost," he said.
Jalosky said it took firefighters two hours just to get the blaze under control and the scene was not cleared until 12:30 p.m.
There also were obstacles to combat.
Jalosky said crews had to utilize a tanker task force with a portable pond set up at the end of the driveway to supply water to fight the fire. There were no hydrants in that area, he said, and the driveway was about 450 to 500 feet long, he said.
Responding were firefighters from the Independence Fire Department, Oxford Fire Department, Hackettstown Fire Department, Belvidere Fire Department, Hope Fire Department, Allamuchy Fire Department, Blairstown Fire Department and Mansfield Fire Department, as well as the Warren County fire coordinator.
Also at the scene was the Oxford Rescue Squad and Independence Township Emergency Medical Services.
It remains unclear where the fire began or how it started. New Jersey State Police in Washington is handling the investigation.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.