Lawrence Township Fire Log: May 14-20

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 18 calls answered by township firefighters from May 14 through May 20, 2011. All calls occurred within Lawrence Township, except where noted.

The total number of fire calls for 2011 through May 20 is 390.

#1 (#373) Saturday, May 14 – Brush Fire – Carnegie Road

• Dispatch: 8:17 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 8:43 p.m.
• Small brush fire was extinguished by the crew of Rescue 21 from Slackwood Fire Co.

#2 (#374) Sunday, May 15 – Fire Alarm – Bishops Drive

• Dispatch: 7:47 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 8:13 a.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 22, 23 responded.

– Federal City Road at I-95 Exit Ramp

• Dispatch: 10:43 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 11:06 a.m.
• Car flipped over multiple times while on exit ramp. Car came to rest back on its wheels. Driver was not trapped and suffered only minor injuries. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#4 (#376) Sunday, May 15 – Smoke Condition – Denow Road

• Dispatch: 11:40 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 12:03 p.m.
• Food began to smoke after being overcooked in a microwave oven. No fire. Fans were used to remove smoke from the residence. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#5 (#377) Sunday, May 15 – Elevator Rescue – Quaker Bridge Mall, 3300 block Brunswick Pike

• Dispatch: 12:14 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 12:29 p.m.
• Lawrenceville Fire Co. was dispatched for a reported stuck elevator. Elevator was found to be operating normally when firefighters arrived.

#6 (#378) Sunday, May 15 –EMS Assist – 2400 block Princeton Pike

• Dispatch: 6:13 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 6:37 p.m.
• Firefighters helped emergency medical personnel carry patient from residence to ambulance. Station 22 responded.

#7 (#379) Sunday, May 15 – Fire Alarm – 100 block Darrah Lane

• Dispatch: 7:57 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 8:12 p.m.
• Alarm system set off due to unattended cooking. Stations 21, 22 responded.

#8 (#380) Monday, May 16 – Carbon Monoxide Alarm – Bunker Hill Avenue

• Dispatch: 12:51 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 1:16 p.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 20, 21 responded.

#9 (#381) Monday, May 16 – Rescue – 2500 block Princeton Pike

• Dispatch: 3:16 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 3:37 p.m.
• A 60-year-old school district employee got her right arm stuck in a copy machine while trying to clear a paper jam in the machine’s inner workings inside the Lawrence Township Public Schools administrative offices. The woman’s arm was quickly freed and she declined medical attention. Stations 20, 21, 22, 23 responded.

#10 (#382) Tuesday, May 17 – EMS Assist – Gedney Road

• Dispatch: 12:34 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 12:40 a.m.
• Lawrence Road Fire Co. was dispatched to help emergency medical personnel gain entry to a locked residence. EMS crew and police got inside via a window prior to firefighters’ arrival.

#11 (#383) Tuesday, May 17 – Fire Alarm – 600 block Whitehead Road

• Dispatch: 4:05 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 4:42 a.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 21, 22 responded.

#12 (#384) Tuesday, May 17 – Fire Alarm – 1500 block New York Avenue

• Dispatch: 7:27 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 8:17 a.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#13 (#385) Tuesday, May 17 – Hazardous Condition – 2000 block Lawrence Road (Route 206)

• Dispatch: 8:22 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 8:40 a.m.
• Live power line fallen. Firefighters stood by until PSE&G arrived to shut off power. Stations 20, 22 responded.

#14 (#386) Tuesday, May 17 – Fire Alarm – Denow Road

• Dispatch: 3:54 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 4:08 p.m.
• Accidental activation of alarm system. Stations 20, 22, 23 responded.

#15 (#387) Wednesday, May 18 – Vehicle Fire – 200 block Lawrenceville-Pennington Road, Hopewell Township

• Dispatch: 12:41 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 1:24 a.m.
• Lawrenceville Fire Co. helped Pennington Fire Co. (Station 51) fight a fire that completely engulfed an unoccupied mobile home camper.

– 1600 block 7th Street, Ewing Township

• Dispatch: 8:04 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 9:18 a.m.
• Lawrence Township firefighters responded mutual aid into Ewing Township to help Ewing firefighters at a house fire, during which a 61-year-old woman was rescued from a second-floor window. Stations 20, 21, 22 responded from Lawrence Township.

#17 (#389) Wednesday, May 18 – Carbon Monoxide Alarm – Maple Leaf Drive

• Dispatch: 9:18 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 9:59 p.m.
• An elevated reading of carbon monoxide (38 parts-per-million) was found in the home. Firefighters determined the source of the CO was a malfunctioning natural gas stove. Gas was shut off and the house was ventilated. Station 23 responded.

#18 (#390) Thursday, May 19 – Smoke Condition – Richards Road

• Dispatch: 11:10 p.m. Last Unit Returned: 11:38 p.m.
• Smoke in the home found to be caused by a melted yogurt cup left on the stovetop. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.