Lawrence Road Fire Company

Back to October 2007 Noteworthy Incidents

STRUCTURE FIRE

Date & Time: Wednesday, October 3, 2007 – 8:31 a.m.

Location: Lawrence High School, 2525 Princeton Pike, Lawrence Township, N.J.

Details: Crews from the Lawrence Road, Slackwood and Lawrenceville fire companies, along with a Lawrence ambulance, were dispatched on Box 22-11 for reported fire on the roof of Lawrence High School. The police officer on duty as the school resource officer immediately confirmed a working fire and, as a result, Mercer County Central at 8:33 a.m. dispatched Rescue 32 from Ewing Township’s Pennington Road Fire Co. to the scene for rapid intervention team duties. Lawrence Road Deputy Chief John Fleming arrived at 8:34 a.m., followed by Telesquirt 22 at 8:36 a.m. Snorkel 21 and Telesquirt 23 then arrived. Firefighters soon learned that a contractor using a torch to patch the roof had accidentally ignited the insulation between the roof and the ceiling of the school’s kitchen. Telesquirt 22’s aerial was raised to the roof, while Telequirt 23 laid a supply line to a hydrant on Princeton Pike. At 8:39 a.m. Engine 14-3 from Hamilton Township’s Enterprise Fire Co. and Ladder Tower 31 from Ewing Township’s Prospect Heights Fire Co. were special-called to the scene for extra apparatus and manpower. Ladder Tower 23, Engine 22, and Rescue 22 then all responded as well. Heavy smoke billowed from the school, as firefighters worked to cut open the roof and pull down the ceiling tiles in the kitchen to reach the fire. The blaze, which was ultimately contained to a small area of the roof, was declared under control at 9:04 a.m. All apparatus were clear by 9:49 a.m. and all Station 22 units were back in quarters by 9:52 a.m. Firefighters briefly responded back to the school after the fire alarm system was accidentally set off at 11:01 a.m. by steam from staff members working to clean up the smoke-damage kitchen.

Responding LRFC Personnel

Telesquirt 22