HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT

Date & Time: Monday, July 30, 2007 – 8:45 a.m.

Location: 136 Eldridge Avenue, Lawrence Township, N.J.

Details: Lawrence Road Fire Co. volunteers were dispatched to 136 Eldridge Avenue after residents called 911 to report that a balloon filled with an unknown whitish-colored substance had exploded inside their mailbox. Deputy Chief John Fleming arrived on the scene within a minute and, at 8:51 a.m., requested that the hazardous materials task force from the Trenton Fire Department be dispatched to the scene. Rescue 22 arrived on scene at 8:52 a.m. and took up a staging position along with EMS personnel. Trenton’s Rescue 1, HazMat 1, Ladder 1 and Engine 1 arrived at 8:59 a.m. HazMat personnel analyzed the substance that had been released into the mailbox from the balloon. They soon determined that it was just sand and was absolutely harmless. All units were then recalled at 10:01 a.m. Rescue 22 was back in quarters by 10:06 a.m.

Responding LRFC Personnel

Rescue 22

Officer: Assistant Chief John Britton	Driver: Paid Driver Robert Santello
Crew: Capt. Michael Byrd	Crew: Ff. Keith Kent

Car 22-1

Deputy Chief John Fleming

All photos copyright (c) 2007 by Robert Santello