STRUCTURE FIRE

Date & Time: Sunday, August 12, 2007 – 12:49 a.m.

Location: 147 Drift Avenue, Lawrence Township, N.J.

Details: It was 12:49 a.m. when Mercer County Central Communications Center transmitted Box 22-10 and dispatched the Lawrence Road, Slackwood and Lawrenceville fire companies for a reported structure fire. Within minutes, police and Slackwood Deputy Chief Robert Santello arrived on scene to find heavy fire venting from the windows on Sides B and C of a one-story single-family dwelling. The homeowner was already safe outside and reported that no one else was inside. Lawrence Road Chief Richard Farletta reached the scene at 12:54 a.m. and assumed command. With confirmation of a working fire, Mercer County Central at 12:55 a.m. dispatched Rescue 32 from Ewing Township’s Pennington Road Fire Co. to the scene as the rapid intervention team. First-due Telesquirt 22 arrived on location at 12:56 a.m. and its crew advanced a 1.75-inch hoseline through the front door to attack the fire. They encountered heavy fire conditions in the kitchen and dining room areas toward the rear of the home. A 5-inch supply line was stretched from Engine 22 to a nearby hydrant to supply Telesquirt 22. While the crew from Snorkel 21 cut a ventilation hole in the roof of the home, two additional 1.75-inch hoselines from Telesquirt 22 were put to work. Because of the heavy fire conditions and the high humidity of the night, Farletta special-called two additional engine companies to the scene for extra manpower at 1:09 a.m. Pennington Borough Engine 51 and Hamilton Fire Co. Engine 14-3 (both of which had been relocated into Lawrence Township for coverage) responded to the fireground. Ultimately, the bulk of the fire was knocked down by 1:16 a.m. and the fire was declared under control at 1:28 a.m. The kitchen and dining room were completely destroyed, while the rest of the home sustained extension smoke, heat and water damage. At 1:37 a.m. Farletta recalled Engine 51 and Engine 14-3. Rescue 32 was also released a few minutes later. Crews from Slackwood and Lawrenceville remained on scene to assist with overhaul until 2:30 a.m. Lawrence Road personnel remained on location assisting the township fire marshal’s office until about 3:40 a.m. Apparatus that operated on scene were: Telesquirt 22, Engine 22, Rescue 22, Ladder Tower 23, Telesquirt 23, Snorkel 21, Rescue 32, Engine 51 and Engine 14-3.

Responding LRFC Personnel

Telesquirt 22

Officer: Capt. Michael Byrd	Driver: Ff. Patrick Kent
Crew: Lt. Richard Laird III	Crew: Ff. Sean Ryan
Crew: Ff. Charles Commini Jr.	Crew: Ff. Ryan Dlabik

Engine 22

Officer: Lt. Joseph Dlabik Jr.	Driver: Ff. Charles Commini Sr.
Crew: Lt. Evan Kutzin	Crew: Ff. Keith Kent

Rescue 22

Officer: Ff. Michael Ratcliffe

Driver: Ff. Joseph Dlabik Sr

Car 22

Chief Richard Farletta

Personal Vehicle

Ff. Martin Burch

All photos copyright (c) 2007 by Michael Ratcliffe