Lawrence Township Fire Log: June 11-17

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. 

The following is a log of all 23 calls answered by township firefighters from June 11 through June 17, 2011. All calls occurred within Lawrence Township, except where noted.

The total number of fire calls for 2011 through June 17 is 471.

#1 (#449) Saturday, June 11 – Fire Alarm – 100 block Foch Avenue

• Time of Alarm: 5:57 a.m. Time Returned: 6:27 a.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 21, 22 responded.

#2 (#450) Saturday, June 11 – Fire Alarm – Richards Road

• Time of Alarm: 11:38 p.m. Time Returned: 12:15 a.m.
• Accidental activation of alarm system. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#3 (#451) Monday, June 13 – Mutual Aid Cover – Rusling Hose Co., Hamilton Township 

• Time of Alarm: 10:09 a.m. Time Returned: 1:21 p.m.
• Snorkel 21 from Slackwood Fire Co. relocated to the Rusling Hose firehouse (Station 13) to help cover Hamilton Township while Hamilton firefighters were busy battling a two-alarm structure fire.

#4 (#452) Monday, June 13 – Odor of Smoke – 1700 block Fifth Street, Ewing Township  

• Time of Alarm: (not available) Time Returned: (not available)
• Snorkel 21 from Slackwood Fire Co. responded to help Ewing Township firefighters investigate an odor of smoke.

#5  (#453) Tuesday, June 14 – Motor Vehicle Accident – Carter Road and Route 206

• Time of Alarm: 4:01 p.m. Time Returned: 4:30 p.m.
• Two-vehicle accident with multiple injuries but no one trapped. Firefighters assisted ambulance personnel. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#6  (#454) Wednesday, June 15 – Fire Alarm – Barberry Court

• Time of Alarm: 12:25 a.m. Time Returned: 12:52 a.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 22, 23 responded.

#7  (#455) Wednesday, June 15 – Fire Alarm – 100 block Darrah Lane

• Time of Alarm: 11:13 a.m. Time Returned: 11:20 a.m.
• Accidental activation of alarm system. Stations 20, 21, 22 responded.

#8 (#456) Wednesday, June 15 – Fire Alarm – 1400 block Parkside Avenue, Ewing Township  

• Time of Alarm: 12:17 p.m. Time Returned: 12:47 p.m.
• Snorkel 21 from Slackwood Fire Co. responded to help Ewing Township firefighters investigate a fire alarm system activation in a high-rise apartment building.

#9 (#457) Wednesday, June 15 – Carbon Monoxide Alarm – Adele Court

• Time of Alarm: 12:19 p.m. Time Returned: 12:48 a.m.
• Malfunction of alarm system. Stations 20, 23 responded.

#10  (#458) Wednesday, June 15 – Fire Alarm – Bishops Drive

• Time of Alarm: 3:02 p.m. Time Returned: 3:09 p.m.
• Accidental activation of alarm system due to water leak. Stations 20, 22, 23 responded.

#11  (#459) Wednesday, June 15 – Hazardous Condition – Green Avenue

• Time of Alarm: 4:31 p.m. Time Returned: 5:05 p.m.
• 911 caller reported smelling an odor of chlorine. Firefighters searched the area but could not find any problem. Stations 22, 23 responded.

#12 (#460) Wednesday, June 15 – Fire Alarm – 3300 block Brunswick Pike (Route 1) 

• Time of Alarm: 6:16 p.m. Time Returned: 6:44 p.m.
• Malfunction of alarm system at Starbucks in Mercer Mall. Stations 21, 23 responded.

#13 (#461) Wednesday, June 15 – Carbon Monoxide Alarm – Colts Circle 

• Time of Alarm: 6:30 p.m. Time Returned: 7:05 p.m.
• Malfunction of alarm system. Station 21 responded.

#14 (#462) Wednesday, June 15 – Fire Alarm – 3300 block Brunswick Pike 

• Time of Alarm: 8:25 p.m. Time Returned: 9:04 p.m.
• Alarm accidentally activated due to unattended cooking in ShopRite at Mercer Mall. Stations 21, 23 responded.

#15  (#463) Thursday, June 16 – Fire Alarm – 1500 block New York Avenue

• Time of Alarm: 2:38 p.m. Time Returned: 3:03 p.m.
• Accidental activation of alarm system. Stations 20, 21, 22 responded.

#16 (#464)  Thursday, June 16 – Fire Alarm – Lawrenceville Elementary School, Craven Lane

• Time of Alarm: 3:30 p.m.  Time Returned: 3:51 p.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 20, 22, 23 responded.

#17  (#465) Thursday, June 16 – Oven Fire – 1200 block White Pine Circle

• Time of Alarm: 3:50 p.m. Time Returned: 4:10 p.m.
• Small fire was contained to burned food on stove. Stations 20, 21, 22, 23 responded.

#18 (#466) Thursday, June 16 – Fire Alarm – 200 block Eldridge Avenue

• Time of Alarm: 5:29 p.m. Time Returned: 5:46 p.m.
• Accidental activation of alarm system. Stations 21, 22 responded.

#19 (#467) Thursday, June 16 – Investigation – 500 block Eagles Chase Drive

• Time of Alarm: 10:17 p.m. Time Returned: 10:41 p.m.
• 911 caller reported smelling a strong odor of gasoline near apartment building. Firefighters searched the area and found the odor was from gasoline properly stored in a container in the back of a pickup truck parked nearby.

#20 (#468) Friday. June 17 – Fire Alarm – Lawrenceville-Pennington Road

• Time of Alarm: 9:01 a.m. Time Returned: 9:17 a.m.
• Accidental activation of alarm system. Station 20, 22, 23 responded.

#21 (#469) Friday, June 17 – Hazardous Condition – Foxtail Court

• Time of Alarm: 10:15 a.m. Time Returned: 10:52 a.m.
• Firefighters plugged a hole to stop gas from leaking out of a Mercury Grand Marquis. Stations 20, 22 responded.

#22 (#470) Friday, June 17 – Federal Point Boulevard

• Time of Alarm: 6:12 p.m. Time Returned: 6:37 p.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 22, 23 responded.

#23 (#471)  Friday, June 17 – Odor of Smoke - 1400 block Prospect Street, Ewing Township 

• Time of Alarm: 8:42 p.m. Time Returned: 9:10 p.m.
• Snorkel 21 from Slackwood Fire Co. responded to help Ewing Township firefighters investigate an odor of smoke in the area. Area searched, with no fire located.