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1976
February
8, 1976
At 2:16 a.m. Sunday, February 8, 1976, Lawrence Road firefighters were
called to help Trenton firefighters at a three-alarm fire involving
a warehouse at 1550 New York Avenue. Engine 222 responded first for
ember patrol then to the scene to assist in hoseline operations. Lawrence
Road firefighters were on the job for 3.5 hours. The following letter,
dated February 10, 1976, was received from Chief Daniel P. George of
the Trenton Fire Department: “Just a brief but official ‘thank
you’ for your service to the City during the three-alarm fire on
February 8, 1976. Please express my appreciation to all the members
of your company.”
February
9, 1976
Discussion on purchasing the company first chief’s vehicle was
held during the meeting on Monday, February 9, 1976: “Chief Ted
Clemen Jr. said he had a price of $2,600 on a 1973 Ford station wagon
from Keat’s Ford. It was passed by the floor to buy the station
wagon if it has been checked out okay by Tommy Smires.”
February
14, 1976
At 11:41 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 1976, Lawrence Road firefighters
were dispatched to Apartment 1E at 175 Johnson Avenue for a kitchen
fire. The blaze was contained to a pot of food on the stove but the
apartment was heavily-charged with smoke when Lawrence Road firefighters
arrived. Firefighters removed three residents from the smoke-filled
apartment. One woman was then transported to Helene Fuld Hospital for
treatment of smoke inhalation. The Lawrence Road firefighters wearing
SCBA who performed the rescues were: John LemMon, Tim Kasony Sr., Richard
Laird, Robert Szejner, and Thomas Furch.
March
17, 1976
The following item was printed in the Lawrence Ledger on Wednesday,
March 17, 1976: “Standard fire drill procedures conducted at the
Quaker bridge Mall Sunday may have resulted in a noon water leak that
flooded some areas near the southeast corner of Bambergers, according
to police reports. Lawrenceville Assistant Fire Chief Richard Hocking
told police the three fire companies were testing the mall’s hydrant
capacity by pumping water. When they stopped using the water, a surge
may have occurred causing a defective or improperly installed spot in
the line to rupture, though these drills have been staged countless
times before without incident, he reported. There was minor damage to
the floor of the Music Scene store…” Accompanying the story
was a photo of a flooded section of mall floor.
April
19, 1976
Lawrence Road Firefighter Michael Barry burned his right hand while
fighting a fire in an unoccupied shack at 43 Greenfield Avenue on Monday,
April 19, 1976. The fire was reported at 3:06 p.m.
May
9, 1976
Lawrence Road Firefighter Tim Kasony Sr. cut his leg and suffered smoke
inhalation while battling a blaze in a two-story house at 11 Newberry
Avenue on Sunday, May 9, 1976. The fire, which was of suspicious origin,
was reported at 1:52 a.m. Flames were contained to the rear of the home.
Firefighters were on scene for two hours.
June
7, 1976
At 7:43 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 1976, the Lawrence Road Fire Co. was
dispatched to assist Slackwood firefighters at a working fire in a garage/warehouse
on Myrtle Street. Lawrence Road firefighters were in service for 90
minutes and used 150 feet of 3-inch hose, 150 feet of 2.5-inch hose
and 500 feet of 1.5-inch hose. The following story was published in
the Trentonian on Tuesday, June 8, 1976: “A fire of undetermined
origin swept through a warehouse owned by the Delaware Construction
and Landscaping Co. on Myrtle Avenue in Lawrence last night, causing
an estimated $20,000 worth of damage. No one was hurt in the blaze,
although Slackwood Fire Co. Chief Rudolph Fuessel said a few of his
men were overcome with smoke. Fuessel said the blaze, which was reported
at 7:45 p.m., appeared to have started in a room containing plywood
sheets. ‘Right now it’s of undetermined origin,’ he said.
‘There were reports of kids in the area right before the fire,
so there will be an investigation.’
June
10, 1976
Three Lawrence Road firefighters were injured at a blaze at 74 Lawn
Park Avenue on Thursday, June 10, 1976. The blaze in the two-story dwelling
was reported at 9:34 p.m. It started in a second-floor bedroom on the
west side of the home after a short-circuit occurred in an extension
cord. Lawrence Road firefighters, assisted by the Slackwood Fire Co.,
contained the fire to the bedroom and the roof. During the blaze, Patrick
Kent and Gino Bossio both suffered finger injuries and Clinton Groover
hurt a leg. Lawrence Road firefighters were on scene for 2.5 hours.
July
17, 1976
At 2:16 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, 1976, Lawrence Road’s Truck
223 (Ford utility truck) was dispatched for cascade duties at a house
fire at 6 Woodhampton Drive in Ewing Township. The blaze heavily damaged
the home, which belonged to a doctor, and Lawrence Road firefighters
were on the scene for two hours.
December
31, 1976
At 12:20 a.m. on Friday, December 31, 1976, Lawrence Road’s Truck
223 was dispatched to the scene of a fire at the Capitol Plaza Shopping
Center in Ewing Township to assist with smoke ejectors. The blaze started
in the Mila Fabrics store and spread smoke into several adjacent stores.
Engine 222 was relocated to stand by at Pennington Road’s firehouse.
1977
January
3, 1977
At 11:06 a.m. on Monday, January 3, 1977, Lawrence Road Fire Co. was
dispatched Reed’s Sod Farm on Princeton Pike to assist Lawrenceville
firefighters in battling a raging barn fire. Both of Lawrence Road’s
Maxim engines and the Ford utility truck responded to the scene. Lawrence
Road firefighters were on the scene for about 5.5 hours. During the
incident, apparatus from Pennington Road and West Trenton fire companies
stood by in Lawrence Road’s firehouse. An aerial photograph of
the blazing barn was published in the Trenton Times on Tuesday, January
4, 1977, accompanied by the following caption: “Firemen lay hose
to fight a blaze that burned most of an old cow barn and 5,000 wooden
shipping pallets valued at $10,000 on the Stuart L. Reed sod farm off
the old Princeton Pike in Lawrence Township yesterday. An overheated
stovepipe reportedly caused the mid-morning fire as two men were working
in the barn.”
January
21, 1977
Lawrence Road Firefighters Tim Kasony Sr. and John LemMon were both
sent to the hospital after suffering frostbite while battling a general
alarm blaze in the Benson Building at the corner of Witherspoon and
Spring streets in the heart of Princeton Borough on Friday, January
21, 1977. The Lawrence Road Fire Co. was dispatched at 5:03 a.m. and
responded on the mutual aid request with 20 firefighters manning both
engines and the utility truck. Lawrence Road firefighters were on the
scene for 9 hours. During that time, crews from Pennington Road and
West Trenton stood by at Lawrence Road’s firehouse. The following
account was printed in the Trenton Times on Friday, January 21, 1977:
“A
predawn fire that raged out of control for more than two hours today
gutted two buildings and damaged portions of a third in the heart of
Princeton Borough’s business district. At least seven ground-level
businesses and several commercial offices on the upper floors of the
Benson Building at Witherspoon and Spring Streets were burned out in
the blaze. The fire was discovered at 4:10 a.m. by a PSE&G emergency
crew. More than 100 firemen, including at least 25 from Trenton, battled
the ire, which wiped out the Colonial Restaurant, Hills Market, the
Welcome Aboard Travel Center, two art galleries, Just Hair styling shop,
and insurance offices. The fire spread and gutted the Adlerman and Click
insurance office at 15 Spring Street after the rear wall of the Benson
Building collapsed onto the roof of the one-story building next door
and smashed through the ceiling. A third building at 27 Witherspoon
Street sustained light fire damage and moderate smoke and water damage
when the fire leapt a four-foot alley and ignited a window frame at
the side of the Urken Supply Co.
“Fire
Chief Anthony Krystaponis reported the fire contained but still burning
throughout the 100-by-200 foot brick Benson Building at 6:45 a.m. Firefighters
continued battling flames and heavy smoke past 10 a.m. and were still
extinguishing embers at 11 a.m. Nearby streets were barricaded, causing
traffic congestion on spillover streets. As flames burned through the
roof, steel girders bent and a large brick wall collapsed, spilling
tons of rubble into Spring Street. Borough firemen laid hundred of yards
of hose. They were joined by volunteers from Lawrenceville, Lawrence
Road, Slackwood, Kingston, Princeton Junction, and by Trenton's Engines
1 and 9, Ladder 1 snorkel and the U-2 cascade unit…” A followup
story published in the Trenton Times on Saturday, January 22, 1977,
called the blaze “the worst fire in the borough’s business
district since World War II, when a Nassau Street building burned down.”
The
following letter, dated January 27, 1977, was received from Chief Tony
Krystaponis of the Princeton Fire Department: “Dear Chief Clemen
– I would like to personally like to thank you and your department
for the quick response in answering our call for assistance as the January
21 fire at Witherspoon and Spring streets. The assistance offered this
department was very much needed, greatly appreciated and will always
be remembered. The crews responding were most cooperative and a pleasure
to work with. Thank you for all you did to help us.”
February
2, 1977
On Wednesday, February 2, 1977, a major fire broke out in Falls, Pa.
At 6:33 p.m. Lawrence Road’s Engine 222 was relocated to standby
at Pennington Road’s firehouse while Pennington Road crews were
at the blaze. At 8:17 p.m., Truck 223 was special-called to the fire
scene for lights. During the incident, apparatus from Princeton stood
by in Lawrence Road’s firehouse. Lawrence Road firefighters did
not return to their headquarters until about 1:30 a.m. the following
day. According to stories published in the Trenton Times on Thursday,
February 3, 1977, the fire at the Queensgate Apartments on West Trenton
Avenue near the border with Morrisville started about 4:30 p.m. in a
stove. A lack of fire walls allowed flames to rapidly spread through
two of the complex's three buildings. A total of 130 apartments were
either destroyed or damaged by the flames and 400 people left homeless.
An estimated 40 fire companies from as far away as Hightstown and Washington
Township in Mercer County and Bensalem and Southampton in Bucks County
fought the blaze for hours.
The
following letter, dated March 17, 1977, was received from Chief David
S. Shanberg of the Falls Township Fire Co.: “On behalf of the Falls
Township Fire Co. I would like to take this opportunity to express our
sincere appreciation to you for your assistance at the Queensgate Apartments
fire on Wednesday, February 2, 1977. Without your aid a fire of this
magnitude could have become a major disaster, causing the loss of many
lives. Your rapid response prevented this from occurring. The numerous
problems encountered, snow and freezing rain, frozen hydrants and low
water pressure, may have hampered firefighting operations for a time
bit with your help and expertise any devastating destruction was averted.
The dedication and cooperation shown by you throughout this fire will
never be forgotten. Again, please accept our heartfelt thanks. You have
our praise and admiration for a job well done.”
February
16, 1977
The Nassau Diner on Route 1 was destroyed by flames on the morning of
Wednesday, February 16, 1977. Lawrence Road firefighters were dispatched
at 5 a.m. and remained on scene for 5.5 hours. They used 1,000 feet
of 3-inch hose, 1,200 feet of 2.5-inch hose, and 300 feet of 1.5-inch
hose. The following account was published in that night’s Trenton
Times: “A predawn fire gutted the 130-seat Nassau Diner on Route
1 today with losses estimated by the owner at more than $200,000. Lawrence
Township firemen turned out at 4:53 a.m. to battle the smoky blaze as
flames burned through the roof of the 90-by-40-foot restaurant. Lawrenceville,
Slackwood and Lawrence Road volunteer firemen slipped on ice and slush
in the 20-degree weather as they surrounded the floodlit building. ‘It
looks like is started in the kitchen and it's pretty much a total loss,’
said Slackwood Chief Rudy Fuessel.”
April
15, 1977
Lawrence Road Firefighter John LemMon used a portable extinguisher to
douse a kitchen fire in the apartment at 1005 White Pine Circle on Friday,
April 15, 1977. The blaze, which started in a trash can, was reported
at 8:32 a.m. The following narrative was written by 2nd Assistant Chief
Patrick Kent: “LemMon related that upon his arrival, fire was visible
both in the area around the kitchen table and beneath same. He proceeded
to extinguish the fire with a portable extinguisher. When apparatus
arrived, light smoke was showing out front and rear windows. A 2.5-inch
line gated to a 1.75-inch line was stretched to the front door as a
precautionary measure. It was necessary to remove the sheetrock walls
and ceiling in the kitchen to check for extension. Smoke ejectors were
used.”
May
12, 1977
The Upper House on the campus of the Lawrenceville School was once again
heavily damaged by flames on Thursday, May 12, 1977. Lawrence Road Fire
Co. was dispatched at 11:44 a.m. and remained on the scene for 2 hours
and 20 minutes. During the blaze, Pennington Road and West Trenton fire
companies stood by for Lawrence Road. A photograph of the blaze appeared
on the front page of the Trenton Times on Friday, May 13, 1977. The
paper reported: “The century-old Upper House dormitory on the Lawrenceville
School campus that was damaged in a midday fire yesterday should return
to normal occupancy by Monday. Defective wiring in a baseboard receptacle
to which a lamp pole and television set were plugged in the third floor
room of Pritchard Ferguson was believed the cause of the fire. That
was in Room 38 of the brick and masonry dorm where a fire in 1968 caused
heavy damage. Yesterday's blaze charred Ferguson's room and sent fire
through the roof. Smoke and water damaged the three floors. Slater Kirby,
18, heard the alarm at 11:39 a.m., came out of his room and smelled
smoke. When he traced it to Ferguson's room he tried to fight the blaze
in an upholstered chair with an extinguisher. Approximately 100 volunteers
of the Lawrenceville, Lawrence Road, and Slackwood fire companies answered
the alarm. Headmaster Bruce McClellan called the response ‘incredibly
quick’ and said the firemen prevented more extensive damage.”
June 13, 1977
During the meeting held on Monday, June 13, 1977, the company named
President Ted Clemen Sr. as “Fireman of the Year.”
July
1, 1977
A vacant building on Carter Road was destroyed by flames on Friday,
July 1, 1977. The Lawrence Road Fire Co. was dispatched at 8:51 a.m.
and remained on the scene for one hour. The Trenton Times published
this account of the blaze in that night’s newspaper: “An empty,
vandalized house on Carter Road in Lawrence Township burned to the ground
today. By 8:45 a.m. when the Lawrenceville Fire Co. was sent to the
five-room dwelling near Kale’s Nursery and Landscaping Service,
the fire was so far along that firemen let it burn, police said. The
owner, Charles Cranstoun, said he had left the 50-year-old house nine
years ago. At one time he had intended to move back, he said, but vandals
smashed out windows and caused other damage. The cause of the fire in
under investigation.”
July
22, 1977
At 1:50 a.m. on Friday, July 22, 1977, Lawrence Road firefighters were
dispatched to assist Slackwood Fire Co. at a working house fire at 2488
Princeton Pike. The blaze started on the first floor and extended to
the second floor. Lawrence Road firefighters were on the scene for five
hours. A ground ladder was destroyed in the blaze. The following account
was published in the Trenton Times on Friday, July 22, 1977:
“Firemen
struggled for more than an hour early this morning to control a stubborn
fire that routed five members of a Lawrence Township family from their
ranch home at 2488 Princeton Pike. A member of the Martin J. Olszak
family called in the fire alarm at 1:52 a.m. At 3 a.m. firemen had the
fire under control. Olszak, his wife, their two children and a relative
were all treated for smoke inhalation at Helene Fuld Medical Center.
“The
home sustained heavy damage from smoke, fire and water. Some family
members returned to watch as firemen cut holes in the roof, knocked
out windows, and battled through dense smoke seeking the source of the
flames. Flames jumped back and forth between two false ceilings and
the roof in the center and southern sections of the light stone-faced
house. The house had two additions, according to Slackwood Chief Rudy
Fuessel. A false ceiling had been added during a recent remodeling.
‘All the remodeling, false ceilings and additions made this fire
a tough one to fight,’ said Fuessel. ‘When we hit the fire
in one spot, it would show up somewhere else. It gave us a run for our
money.’
“The
fire was finally extinguished by all three township fire companies and
a detachment from the Prospect Heights Fire Co. Fuessel said the blaze
started in a utility area behind the kitchen and spread to an attic.
After the fire was out, more than two dozen sweaty, fatigued firemen
stretched out on the damp lawn and drank water.” The residents
of the home, the Olszak family, sent the following letter, dated August
18, 1977: “A thank you would never express our deep gratitude and
appreciation for all the work that all of you volunteers did in fighting
our house fire on July 22. Due to your hard work and consideration,
we were able to salvage some things of a sentimental nature money could
never replace.”
August
26, 1977
A major fire broke out in Hamilton Township at the Capital City Warehouse
on Industrial Drive on Friday, August 26, 1977. At 1:09 a.m. Lawrence
Road’s Engine 222 was dispatched to stand by at the Slackwood firehouse.
The engine was then moved up to the fire scene. Truck 223 was also dispatched
to the fire scene. At the scene, Lawrence Road laid 500 feet of 4-inch
hose. The following account was published in that night’s Trenton
Times:
“A
million dollars worth of volatile rubber and chemical products fed a
spectacular fire which destroyed most of the Capitol City Warehouse
in Hamilton early this morning. Bright orange flames and thick black
smoke filled the sky over the far northwest section of the township
as an estimated 300 firefighters from seven municipalities battled the
blaze on Industrial Drive. The fire was still smoldering at 7 a.m.,
more than seven hours after the first of a dozen fire companies from
as far away as Hightstown arrived.
“The
fire started in an empty box car parked on a rail a few feet from the
southwest corner of the two-story warehouse. Fire officials said flames
then spread to the first floor of the 100-by-300-foot building and up
a stairwell to the second floor. About 2 a.m. firefighters appeared
to have the blaze contained to one section of the second floor. But
the flames apparently ignited barrels of rubber and industrial chemicals
and, within minutes, the entire second floor was engulfed. ‘Everybody
out of the building,’ ordered Hamilton Fire Co. Chief Fred Yaede
through loudspeakers shortly after 2 a.m. At 4 a.m., just as the fire
was brought under control, a section of the floor caved in. The fire
involved companies from Hamilton, Lawrence, Ewing, Trenton, West Windsor,
Hightstown, and Washington Township...”
November
21, 1977
At 6:15 a.m. on Monday, November 21, 1977, Lawrence Road’s Engine
222 was sent to stand by for the Lawrenceville Fire Co. while they were
busy at a fire on Route 31 in Hopewell Township. Lawrence Road's Truck
223 was later sent to the scene of the blaze at the Zentco Plastics
warehouse north of the Pennington Circle. The following details were
printed in that evening’s Trenton Times: “An early morning
fire ripped through the Zentco Plastics warehouse on Route 31 in Hopewell
Township early today and left half the building in ruins, police said.
The fire, which broke out shortly after 5 a.m., was battled by firefighters
from six companies. It was brought under control in about an hour. One
firefighter reported half the building had been destroyed. A firewall
in the middle of the building saved the other half from extensive damage…”
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