STRUCTURE FIRE

Date & Time: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 – 5:42 p.m.

Location: 74 Ross Stevenson Circle, Princeton Township, N.J.

Details: All three Princeton fire companies – Princeton Engine #1 (Station 61), Princeton Hook & Ladder (Station 62) and Mercer Engine #3 (Station 63) – were dispatched, along with the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad (Squad 168), at 5:34 p.m. after Princeton Theological Seminary Professor Geddes W. Hanson and his wife called 911 to report smoke on the second floor of their home. Heavy smoke was pushing from the eaves and flames were visible on side D when police and first-due firefighters manning Squirt 63 arrived on the scene. With confirmation of a working fire, Mercer County Central upgraded to Box 60-20’s full first alarm. That resulted in the dispatch at 5:42 p.m. of Engine 53 from Rocky Hill and Rescue 22 from Lawrence Road. Ladder Tower 49 from Plainsboro was special-called a short time later, along with the rehab unit from Trenton Emergency Medical Service. Thanks to an aggressive interior attack by Princeton firefighters, the blaze was contained to the room of origin on the second-floor. The fire was declared under control at 6:09 p.m. Rescue 22’s crew stood by as the rapid intervention team during firefighting and overhaul efforts. Ultimately, Rescue 22 was released at 6:44 p.m. and was back in quarters by 7:05 p.m. Apparatus that operated on scene included: Squirt 63, Engine 63, Ladder Tower 62, Engine 62, Special Services 60, Rescue 168, Engine 53, Rescue 22, Ladder Tower 49, and Rehab 174.

Responding LRFC Personnel

Rescue 22

Officer: Capt. Edward Kitchen	Driver: Ff. Matthew Farletta
Crew: Lt. Joseph Dlabik Jr.	Crew: Ff. Shaun Dlabik
Crew: Ff. Adam Rivera	Crew: Ff. Keith Kent
Crew: Ff. Michael Byrd

All photos copyright (c) 2008 by Michael Ratcliffe