Lawrence Road Fire Company

Back to October 2007 Noteworthy Incidents

TWO-ALARM STRUCTURE FIRE

Date & Time: Thursday, October 25, 2007 – 6:40 a.m.

Location: 12 Glen Mawr Drive, Ewing Township, N.J.

Details: It was 6:39 a.m. when Ewing firefighters were dispatched on Box 32-10 for a possible house fire. Due to multiple 911 calls and then confirmation of a working fire by police, Mercer County Central immediately upgraded to a full first alarm and, at 6:40 a.m., retoned all three Ewing fire companies and dispatched Lawrence Road’s Rescue 22 as the rapid intervention team. At 6:42 a.m., Pennington Road Fire Co. Deputy Chief Matt Kalnas arrived on scene to the house at 12 Glen Mawr Avenue heavily involved in fire, with flames already impinging on the Side B Exposure (14 Glen Mawr Avenue). Kalnas requested a second alarm, which resulted in the dispatch at 6:43 a.m. of units from Slackwood, Lawrenceville, Pennington Borough, and Union-Titusville fire companies. Ewing firefighters attempted an interior attack on 12 Glen Mawr Drive, but the fire conditions were too great and all personnel were ordered to evacuate the building at 6:59 a.m. Firefighters then switched to a defensive operation utilizing several hoselines. The fire on the Side B Exposure was quickly extinguished, with damage limited to the exterior siding. The original fire building, however, was completely destroyed, as the blaze burned through the roof. Upon Rescue 22’s arrival, half the crew was ordered to man a 2.5-inch hoseline, while the other half was ordered to stand by as the RIT. At about 7:25 a.m. Rescue 22’s RIT members were also given a firefighting assignment. At that point, an additional company (from Hopewell Borough) was special called to the scene to assume RIT duties. The blaze was officially declared under control at 8:15 a.m. At about 8:40 a.m., Rescue 22’s crew resumed RIT duties. By 9:45 a.m., Rescue 22 was dissolved of RIT responsibilities and put to work helping with overhaul operations. Investigators eventually found that the blaze had been sparked by an electrical problem in the garage of 12 Glen Mawr Drive. A total of seven people were left homeless by the fire. One firefighter who became dizzy on the scene was transported to the hospital for treatment. Apparatus that operated on the fireground included: Telesquirt 32, Engine 32, Light Plant 32, Engine 33, Engine 33-1, Ladder Tower 31, Rescue 22, Engine 21-1, Telesquirt 23, Ladder Tower 51, Telesquirt 53, Engine 52-1, and Signal 22 (Canteen). Rescue 22 was released from the scene at 10:49 a.m. and back in quarters at Station 22 by 11 a.m.

Responding LRFC Personnel

Rescue 22

Capt. Michael Byrd

Officer: Ff. Matthew Farletta	Driver: Lt. Joseph Dlabik Jr.
Crew: Ff. Keith Kent	Crew: Ff. Ryan Dlabik
Crew: Ff. Adam Rivera	Crew: Ff. Steven Adzima

Car 22

Chief Richard Farletta