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Video: Blaze Rips Through Secor Family's Mahwah Home

MAHWAH, N.J. -- No injuries were reported in an electrical fire that roared through the home of the popular family that owns Secor Farms in Mahwah.

Crews worked for nearly four hours.

Photo Credit: Mahwah Fire Rescue
The aftermath.

The aftermath.

Photo Credit: YouCaring
The fire broke out just before nightfall.

The fire broke out just before nightfall.

Photo Credit: Jerry DeMarco
Darryl Secor discovered the fire, notified authorities and tried to put it out, sustaining minor burns to his hands and his face, for which he was treated at the scene.

Darryl Secor discovered the fire, notified authorities and tried to put it out, sustaining minor burns to his hands and his face, for which he was treated at the scene.

Photo Credit: Jerry DeMarco
Dozens of units from Mahwah, Ramsey and other Bergen and Rockland towns responded.

Dozens of units from Mahwah, Ramsey and other Bergen and Rockland towns responded.

Photo Credit: Jerry DeMarco
At the scene.

At the scene.

Photo Credit: Jerry DeMarco
At the scene.

At the scene.

Photo Credit: Jerry DeMarco
The Secor home on Airmount Avenue.

The Secor home on Airmount Avenue.

Photo Credit: Brian O'Toole
The house was a total loss.

The house was a total loss.

Photo Credit: Jerry DeMarco

The blaze began "either in an extension cord or timer connected to outdoor Christmas lights" on the porch and ripped through Darryl and Jackie Secor's home on Airmount Avenue -- right next to their farm -- just as night began to fall Saturday, Police James N. Batelli said.

Darryl Secor discovered the fire around 4:15 p.m., notified authorities and tried to put it out, sustaining minor burns to his hands and his face, for which he was treated at the scene, the chief said.

The family dog also escaped unharmed, he added.

All five Mahwah fire companies responded to the blaze, and were joined by their colleagues from Ramsey, Wyckoff and Tallman, NY.

The fire was extinguished in just under a half-hour, Batelli said. Fire companies remained on the scene for several hours extinguishing hot spots, he said.

Although initial indications were that the house was a total loss, the Secors said they would still be open for business on Sunday.

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UPDATE: As hundreds of customers -- actually, friends -- continued to flock to their Mahwah farm, the Secor family praised the massive outpouring of love following a weekend fire that destroyed their home.

https://mahwah.dailyvoice.com/police-fire/response-to-tragic-fire-humbles-mahwahs-secor-farms-family/729250/

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Countless friends and even strangers wrote hosts of social media posts expressing sorrow and grief and asking what they could do to help. Mayor Bill Laforet established a YouCaring fundraiser.

"This is a tragic loss at any time of the year, but especially now with Christmas just a week away," Batelli said. 

Begun by Darryl Secor's great grandfather when he moved to the area from Paterson nearly 80 years ago, the farm originally consisted of 50 acres in Upper Saddle River.

In 1973, the family expanded into Mahwah.

Secor Farms not only has been a famous landmark passed down through three generations: The Secors themselves have been extremely active in supporting Mahwah's public schools, the Girl Scouts and other local causes.

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According to Mahwah Fire Rescue Co. 1: "Company 1’s Engine 115 was first on scene along with Battalion 2, and found the first floor engulfed in fire. 

"Engine 115’s crew, Lieutenant C. Brown, J. Warnet, and J. Chase, and chauffeur/pump operator R. Morgan, along with T. Loreto (Battalion 2) made the initial attack to bring the fire under control. 

"Not long after fire crews from Companies 2, 3, and 4 began to arrive along with mutual aid from Ramsey, Hohokus, and Tallman. Fire crews worked for approximately 4 hours to extinguish the blaze."

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