STRUCTURE FIRE

Date & Time: Tuesday, May 6, 2008 – 3:53 p.m.

Location: 4 Allegheny Avenue, Lawrence Township, N.J.

Details: A roofing contractor was putting the finishing touches on a new roof when he accidentally started a raging fire that destroyed the attic and top floor of the house at 4 Allegheny Avenue. The contractor was reportedly using a torch to heat up material to seal a vent near the peak of the two-story home's roof when he inadvertently ignited insulation in the attic. The man allegedly tried to fight the growing blaze on his own using a portable extinguisher and a garden hose for as much as 10 minutes before the homeowner called 911. It was 3:53 p.m. when Mercer County Central transmitted Box 21-10 and dispatched the Slackwood (Station 21), Lawrence Road (Station 22) and Lawrenceville (Station 23) fire companies. At 3:55 p.m. Slackwood Assistant Chief Michael Oakley arrived on scene and reported that he had heavy smoke pushing from the roof. Based on that report, an additional engine company (Engine 14-4 from Enterprise Fire Co. of Hamilton Township) was dispatched to the scene. First-due Engine 21-1 and Snorkel 21 arrived at 4 p.m. Engine 21-1’s crew wrapped the hydrant at the corner of Allegheny Avenue and Brunswick Pike and laid a supply line up to the fire building. Engine 22 arrived at 4:01 p.m. and connected to the hydrant to feed the supply line. Ladder Tower 23 arrived at 4:03 p.m. and took a position on Side D in the lot of the business next-door. Ladder Tower 23’s aerial was eventually raised to the roof. Engine 14-4 arrived at 4:06 p.m., followed by Rescue 21 at 4:09 p.m., and Rescue 22 at 4:11 p.m. Firefighters attempted an interior attack with multiple 1.75-inch hoselines, but their efforts were hampered by limited access to the attic and a excessive amount of items stored on the second floor. Ground ladders were thrown and two crews were sent to the roof with saws to cut ventilation holes. With interior crews still trying to pull the ceiling to reach the attic and conditions rapidly deteriorating, Slackwood Chief Robert Santello ordered all personnel to evacuate the building at 4:13 p.m. Just minutes later the entire second floor was consumed by heavy fire. Rescue 32 from Ewing Township’s Pennington Road Fire Co. was dispatched at 4:09 p.m. and arrived on scene at 4:19 p.m. Interior operations resumed after the bulk of the visible fire was knocked down through the use of exterior hoselines. The blaze was officially declared under control at 4:45 p.m. At 5:21 p.m. Engine 33 from Ewing’s West Trenton Fire Co. was special-called to the scene to assist with overhaul operations. Engine 33 arrived at 5:26 p.m.k Ambulance crews from Lawrence Emergency Medical Service and a rehab unit from Trenton Emergency Medical Service assisted at the scene by monitoring firefighters’ conditions and keeping everyone safe. As a result, no injuries were reported. Rescue 22’s cascade system was used to refill 10 SCBA bottles on location. Rescue 22 was released at 6:03 p.m. and was back in quarters by 6:13 p.m. Engine 22, meanwhile, remain on scene until 6:48 p.m. to help complete overhaul operations. Engine 22 returned to Station 22 by 6:52 p.m.

Responding LRFC Personnel

Engine 22

Officer: Lt. Joseph Dlabik Jr.	Driver: Ff. Charles Commini Sr.
Crew: Capt. Michael Byrd	Crew: Ff. Ryan Dlabik
Crew: Ff. Keith Kent	Crew: Ff. C.J. Decello

Rescue 22

Officer: Ff. Charles Commini Jr.	Driver: Ff. Joseph Dlabik Sr.
Crew: Ff. Michael Guala

All photos copyright (c) 2008 by Michael Ratcliffe