Crime & Safety

Lawrence Township Fire Log: Jan. 29 - Feb. 4

Lawrence Township firefighters responded to 29 calls during the fifth week of 2011.

Lawrence Township is protected by three volunteer fire companies: (Station 21), founded in 1907; Lawrence Road Fire Co. (Station 22), organized in 1914; and Lawrenceville Fire Co. (Station 23), founded in 1915. Fires, motor vehicle accidents, hazardous situations, chemical spills, natural disasters, floods and animal rescues are among the wide variety of emergency situations to which the fire companies regularly respond. 

When an emergency is reported through the 911 system, volunteer firefighters are alerted via pager. If they are available, they leave their homes, jobs or wherever they are at the time and respond to their respective firehouses. Once a minimum number of volunteers (usually four) are present, they staff a fire engine, ladder truck or other apparatus and respond to the scene of the emergency.

Between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday (with the exception of holidays) Lawrence Township's four career (paid) firefighters also respond to emergencies under the designation of Station 20. 

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The following is a log of all 29 calls answered by township firefighters from Jan. 29 through Feb. 4, 2011. All calls occurred within Lawrence Township, except where noted.

The total number of fire calls for 2011 through Feb. 4 is 119.

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#1 (#91) Saturday, Jan. 29 – Fire Alarm – Lawrence Lexus, 2630 Brunswick Pike (Rt. 1)

Dispatch:  6:18 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 6:37 a.m.

Alarm system malfunction. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#2 (#92) – Twp. Ecological Center, 3701 Princeton Pike

Dispatch:  10:06 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 11:34 a.m.

Large pile of mulch smoldering, causing smoke to blanket Princeton Pike. Water flowed from ladder of Telesquirt 23. Stations 21, 22, 23, 60 (Princeton Fire Dept.) responded.

#3 (#93) Saturday, Jan. 29 – Fire Alarm – Denow Road

Dispatch: 12:34 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 12:55 p.m.

Alarm accidentally set off by contractors. Stations 22, 23 responded.

#4 (#94) Saturday, Jan. 29 – Smoke Condition – Evans Lane

Dispatch: 2:01 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 2:35 p.m.

Resident reported smelling an odor of smoke. House searched with no problems found. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#5 (#95) – Twp. Ecological Center, 3701 Princeton Pike

Dispatch: 9:59 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 11:27 a.m.

Large pile of mulch smoldering, causing smoke to blanket Princeton Pike. Water flowed from ladder of Telesquirt 23 and supplied from hydrant by Rescue 23.

#6 (#96) – Marvin Court

Dispatch: 11:29 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 2:25 p.m.

Broke water pipe in ceiling over kitchen flooded first floor and basement, causing extensive damage. Firefighters forced entry through a rear door and shut off the water flow. Station 23 responded.

#7 (#97) Sunday, Jan. 30 – Carbon Monoxide Alarm – Bunker Hill Road

Dispatch: 5:57 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 6:28 p.m.

Resident reported CO alarm beeping. Found to be caused by a weak battery in the alarm. Battery replaced. Station 22 responded.

#8 (#98) Sunday, Jan. 30 – Fire Alarm – Foxcroft Drive

Dispatch: 8:31 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 8:46 p.m.

Alarm accidentally set off by hot dogs overcooked on stovetop. No fire. Stations 22, 23 responded.

#9 (#99) Monday, Jan. 31 – Carobon Monoxide Alarm – 2000 block Princeton Pike

Dispatch: 2:20 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 2:43 a.m.

Resident reported CO alarm beeping. Found to be caused by a faulty battery in the alarm. Stations 21, 22 responded.

#10 (#100) Monday, Jan. 31 – Vehicle Fire – Interstate 95

Dispatch: 4:25 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 4:42 a.m.

Reported vehicle fire. Area searched. No fire located. Stations 23, 12 (Mercerville-Hamilton Twp.) responded.

#11 (#101) Monday, Jan. 31 – Mulch Fire - Twp. Ecological Center, 3701 Princeton Pike

Dispatch: 7:45 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 8:01 a.m.

Small smoldering fire in pile of mulch. Township public works employees already on scene attending to the mulch. No fire department services required. Stations 22, 23 responded.

#12 (#102) Monday, Jan. 31 – Elevator Rescue – St. Lawrence Rehab. Center, Route 206

Dispatch: 4:42 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 5 p.m.

Two people freed from elevator stuck near first floor. Station 23 responded.

#13 (#103) Tuesday, Feb. 1 – Fire Alarm – 700 block President Avenue

Dispatch: 2:05 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 2:39 p.m.

Smoke from unattended cooking set off alarm. No fire. Smoke cleared from home. Stations 20, 21, 22 responded.

#14 (#104) Wednesday, Feb. 2 – Hazardous Condition – Gedney Road

Dispatch: 7:31 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 7:46 a.m.

911 caller reported seeing overheard electrical wires burning. Area searched but no fire located. Station 22 responded.

#15 (#105) – Sunset Road

Dispatch: 11:40 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 12:11 p.m.

Two overhead electrical wires were found down and in the roadway as a result of the ice storm. Firefighters and police secured the area until PSE&G utility crews arrived to shut off power. Stations 20, 22 responded.

#16 (#106) Wednesday, Feb. 2 – Hazardous Condition – 100 block Drift Avenue

Dispatch: 6:37 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 7:06 p.m.

Broken sewer pipe caused back-up of water in basement. Station 22 responded.

#17 (#107) Wednesday, Feb. 2 – Smoke Condition – Parkside Avenue, Ewing Twp.

Dispatch: 6:29 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 7:02 p.m.

Snorkel 21 responded to help Ewing Township firefighters investigate a reported odor of smoke in a high-rise apartment building. No fire located.   

#18 (#108) Wednesday, Feb. 2 – Hazardous Condition – 4500 block Province Line Road

Dispatch: 7:07 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 7:39 p.m.

Arcing electrical transformer on a utility pole. Firefighters stood by until PSE&G made the scene safe. Station 23 responded.

#19 (#109) – 100 block Oaklyn Terrace

Dispatch: 8:53 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 9:34 p.m.

Fire in a clothes dryer, quickly extinguished with no damage to home. Fan used to clear smoke from home. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded

#20 (#110) Thursday, Feb. 3 – Fire Alarm – Amalfi’s, 146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd.

Dispatch: 2:50 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 3:01 p.m.

Alarm system malfunction. Stations 20, 22, 23 responded.

#21 (#111) Thursday, Feb. 3 – Carbon Monoxide Alarm – Easton Court

Dispatch: 2:56 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 3:12 p.m.

Resident reported CO alarm beeping. Found to be caused by a bad battery in the alarm. Stations 20, 23 responded.

#22 (#112) – Route 1 South near Interstate 295

Dispatch: 4:56 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 5:35 p.m.

Two-vehicle crash. One car flipped onto its side. No entrapment. Minor injuries. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#23 (#113) Thursday, Feb. 3 – EMS Assist – 2600 block Princeton Pike

Dispatch: 5:40 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 5:52 p.m.

Station 21 dispatched to assist emergency medical personnel. No further details available.

#24 (#114) Thursday, Feb. 3 – Oven Fire – Lawnside Drive

Dispatch: 9:07 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 9:36 p.m.

Reported oven fire. Fire out when fire department arrived. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded

#25 (#115) Thursday, Feb. 3 – Hazardous Condition – Quaker Bridge Mall, Route 1

Dispatch: 9:50 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 10:06 p.m.

Reported smoke coming from an exterior electrical box. Power shut off. No fire. Station 23 responded

#26 (#116) Friday, Feb. 4 – Fire Alarm – Burlington Coat Factory, 2495 Brunswick Pike

Dispatch: 7:52 a.m. Last Unit Returned: 8:08 a.m.

Reported by a passerby as a fire alarm. Found to be a malfunctioning burglar alarm. Stations 21, 22 responded.

#27 (#117) – Chesney Avenue, Ewing Township

Dispatch: 4:15 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 5:07 p.m.

Rescue 22 responded to help Ewing Township firefighters at the scene of a confirmed house fire.

#28 (#118) Friday, Feb. 4 – Mutual Aid Cover – Pennington Road Fire Co., Ewing Twp.

Dispatch: 4:20 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 5:32 p.m.

Telesquirt 23 relocated to Station 32 (Pennington Road) to help protect Ewing Township while Ewing firefighters were busy at the house fire on Chesney Avenue.

#29 (#119) Friday, Feb. 4 – Mutual Aid Cover – Prospect Heights Fire Co., Ewing Twp.

Dispatch: 4:20 p.m. Last Unit Returned: (not recorded)

Station 21 was dispatched to cover Station 31 (Prospect Heights) during the Chesney Avenue house fire.


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