The Scotch Plains and Fanwood fire departments assisted New Providence late Wednesday night, after the New Providence Fire Department and three other squads responded to a blaze on the second floor and attic of of a New Providence residence.

"We got a call for a structure fire [at 11:16 p.m.] and when we arrived, it was coming through the roof and the windows," New Providence Fire Chief Ralph Parlapiano said. "We believe there was only one occupant in the house, and a dog. They got out. The homeowner was taken to the hospital. Right now, the fire is under control."

The resident's injuries could not be confirmed as of Thursday morning. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Parlapiano said.

The Chatham, Berkeley Heights and Summit fire departments responded to the scene of the blaze, Parlapiano said. Fanwood, Scotch Plains and Mountainside responded to the town's fire department as backup.

Clusters of nearby residents stood across the street as firefighters battled the blaze. Renee Peotter, a resident next door to the house that caught fire, said she saw smoke just after the fire broke out and acted quickly.

"I was in my room and I heard a big boom, like a pop, and I looked out my window and saw smoke," Peotter said. "So I called 911 saying there was a fire. I ran outside. I saw [the resident] on her driveway and my dad was carrying her dog out of the house."

Peotter said her family had their hose available for the police to use if needed.

"We had our hose out to see if they wanted to use the water because only the police were here," Peotter said. "[The fire was coming out] right where the electrical went into [the house] and [flames came from] the attic and the second floor."

New Providence Emergency Medical Services was on the scene. EMTs established a rehabilitation station across the street from the structure that caught fire, to assist dehydrated or overheated firefighters.

"We have to do rehab where we take the firefighters [as] they come out of the house and we do a set of vitals on them," EMS Deputy Captain Alison Ambrose said. "If their vitals are stable, then they can reenter. It's mandatory for them. If they've gone 40 minutes in the house, they have to go through rehab. They are given water, we take their vitals and if everything is okay, they have permission to go back in."

Five members of the Ladies Auxiliary, who said they heard about the fire on the radio, were also on scene, offering the firemen water.