Lawrence Township Fire Log: March 19-25

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 20 calls answered by township firefighters from March 19 through March 25, 2011. All calls occurred within Lawrence Township, except where noted.

The total number of fire calls for 2011 through March 25 is 248.

#1 (#229) Saturday, March 19 – EMS Assist – Colts Circle

• Dispatch: 12:24 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 12:39 a.m.
• Firefighters assisted EMS in gaining entry to apartment to check on welfare of resident. Station 21 responded.

#2 (#230) Saturday, March 19 – Fire Alarm – 3200 block Brunswick Pike

• Dispatch: 7:29 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 7:51 a.m.
• Alarm at Motor Vehicles Commission facility accidentally set off by burnt food in a toaster. No fire. Stations 21, 23 responded.

#3 (#231) Saturday, March 19 – Fire Alarm – 3300 block of Brunswick Pike

• Dispatch: 7:51 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 8:16 a.m.
• Accidental activation of alarm system at ShopRite at Mercer Mall. Stations 21, 23 responded.

#4 (#232) Saturday, March 19 – Fire Alarm – 100 block Johnson Avenue

• Dispatch: 11:23 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 11:48 a.m.
• Accidental activation of fire alarm. Station 21, 22 responded.

#5 (#233) Saturday, March 19 – Flooding – 100 block of Lawrenceville-Pennington Road

• Dispatch: 2:07 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 2:29 p.m.
• Small leak from broken water line connected to a toilet. Water shut off. Station 23 responded.

#6 (#234) Saturday, March 19 – Fire Alarm – Forrest Ridge Road

• Dispatch: 2:17 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 2:37 p.m.
• Alarm accidentally set off by unattended cooking. Stations 21, 22 responded.

#7 (#235) Saturday, March 19 – Fire Alarm – Princess Road

• Dispatch: 2:47 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 3:19 p.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 21, 23 responded.

#8 (#236) Sunday, March 20 – Smoke Condition – 100 block Johnson Avenue

• Dispatch: 5:01 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 5:30 p.m.
• Odor of smoke found to be the result of unattended cooking. No fire. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#9 (#237) Monday, March 21 – Traffic Accident – 4000 block Quakerbridge Road

• Dispatch: 10:25 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 10:49 a.m.
• Car hit the front of a building. No injuries; no entrapment. Minor damage. Stations 20, 21, 22, 23 responded.

#10 (#238) Monday, March 21 – Fire Alarm – 100 block Eldridge Avenue

• Dispatch: 11:41 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 11:57 a.m.
• Accidental activation of fire alarm caused by oven in self-cleaning mode. Stations 20, 21, 22 responded.

#11 (#239) Monday, March 21 – Fire Alarm – 600 block Lawrence Road

• Dispatch: 7:33 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 7:47 p.m.
• Accidental activation of fire alarm caused by a floor buffer. Stations 21, 22 responded.

#12 (#240) Wednesday, March 23 – Overturned Vehicle – 1700 block Princeton Ave.

• Dispatch: 11:17 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 12:03 a.m.
• One-car accident. Car flipped onto its roof. No entrapment. Driver transported to hospital for minor injuries. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#13 (#241) Thursday, March 24 – Fire Alarm – Poe Road

• Dispatch: 4:01 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 4:17 p.m.
• Stations 22 and 23 were dispatched to investigate a fire alarm but were then cancelled after it was determined the alarm was actually on Poe Road in Princeton Township and not in Lawrence.

#14 (#242) Thursday, March 24 – Fire Alarm – Poe Road, Princeton Township

• Dispatch: 4:23 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 4:47 p.m.
• Lawrenceville Fire Co. dispatched to assist Princeton Fire Dept. with fire alarm activation, which was found to be caused by a system malfunction.

#15 (#243) Thursday, March 24 – Fire Alarm – 1000 block Lenox Drive

• Dispatch: 8:22 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 9:06 p.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 21, 23 responded.

#16 (#244) Friday, March 25 – Fire Alarm – 2300 block Princeton Pike

• Dispatch: 2:16 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 2:48 a.m.
• Malfunction of alarm system. Stations 21, 22, 23, 31 (Prospect Heights Fire Co., Ewing Township) responded.

#17 (#245) Friday, March 25 – Motor Vehicle Accident – Nottingham Way, Hamilton Twp.

• Dispatch: 7:42 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 7:48 a.m.
• Rescue 22 from Lawrence Road Fire Co. was dispatched mutual aid into Hamilton Township to assist at an accident in which a car ran into the rear of a tractor-trailer. The driver was quickly freed by Hamilton firefighters and Rescue 22 was cancelled.

#18 (#246) Friday, March 25 – Odor of Smoke – 2200 block Lawrence Road

• Dispatch: 10:06 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 10:20 a.m.
• Odor of smoke in Lawrence Township police station caused by an electrical problem with a heating unit. Stations 20, 21, 22, 23 responded.

#19 (#247) Friday, March 25 – Fire Alarm – 3200 Brunswick Pike

• Dispatch: 8:09 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 8:46 p.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#20 (#248) Firday, March 25 - Odor of Gas - Easton Court

• Dispatch: 9:34 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 9:55 p.m.
• Odor of gas in house found to be from an unlit pilot light on the stove. Station 23 responded.