Lawrence Township Fire Log: May 28 - June 3

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 14 calls answered by township firefighters from May 28 through June 3, 2011. All calls occurred within Lawrence Township, except where noted.

The total number of fire calls for 2011 through June 3 is 416.

#1 (#403) Saturday, May 28 – Fire Alarm – Bishops Drive

• Dispatch: 3:00 a.m.  Last Unit Returned: 3:55 a.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#2 (#404) Saturday, May 28 – Odor of Smoke – Merritt Drive

• Dispatch: 12:20 p.m.  Last Unit Returned: 12:45 p.m.
• Odor of smoke traced to faulty motor in refrigerator. No fire. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#3  (#405) Saturday, May 28 – Lawnmower Fire – Whitemarsh Drive

• Time of Alarm: 3:39 p.m. Time Returned: 3:49 p.m.
• Small lawnmower fire. Already extinguished when firefighters arrived. Station 21 responded.

#4  (#406) Sunday, May 29 – Oven Fire – Joyner Court

• Time of Alarm: 10:15 a.m. Time Returned: 11:10 a.m.
• Small oven fire, contained to a pot of food in the oven. Fans used to clear smoke from residence. Stations 21, 22, 23 and 12 (Mercerville Fire Co., Hamilton Township).

#5 (#407) Monday, May 30 – Dryer Fire – 200 block Dunleigh Court, Hopewell Township 

• Time of Alarm: 12:57 a.m.  Time Returned: 1:47 a.m.
• Lawrenceville Fire Co. responded to help Pennington Fire Co. (Station 51). Fire in a clothes dryer was put out using a dry chemical fire extinguisher. Fans were used to clear away smoke.

#6  (#408) Tuesday, May 31 – Motor Vehicle Accident – Brunswick Pike and Lake Drive

• Time of Alarm: 4:28 p.m. Time Returned: 5:04 p.m.
• Two-vehicle rear-end collision, with no entrapment. Stations 21, 22, 23 responded.

#7 (#409) Tuesday, May 31 – Fire Alarm – 900 block Lenox Drive 

• Time of Alarm: 8:16 p.m. Time Returned: 8:57 p.m.
• Malfunction of alarm system. Stations 21, 23 responded.

#8 (#410) Tuesday, May 31 – Odor of Smoke – 100 block Sullivan Way, Trenton  

Time of Alarm: 10:25 p.m. Time Returned: 10:54 p.m.

• Slackwood and Lawrenceville fire companies responded to assist Trenton Fire Department at a possible fire at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital. At the time, many Trenton fire companies were committed at the scene of a house fire. Lawrence units were cancelled prior to arriving on scene in Trenton. 

#9 (#411) Wednesday, June 1 – Carbon Monoxide Alarm – Cliveden Court 

• Time of Alarm: 7:04 a.m.  Time Returned: 7:29 a.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 22, 23 responded.

– 1500 block Calhoun Street, Ewing Township

• Time of Alarm: 3:54 p.m. Time Returned: 6:43 p.m.
• Fire in large pile of mulch, scrap wood, old railroad ties and other material at the recycling yard of Mercer Group international. Snorkel 21 from Slackwood Fire Co. helped fight the fire. Rescue 23 from Lawrenceville Fire Co. was initially relocated to the Pennington Road firehouse to help cover Ewing Township but was then called to the fire scene to help pick up hose.

– Pennington Road Fire Co., Ewing Township

• Time of Alarm: 4:40 p.m. Time Returned: 6:17 p.m.
• Rescue 23 from Lawrenceville Fire Co. was relocated to the Pennington Road (Station 32) firehouse to help cover Ewing Township while Ewing firefighters were busy fighting a fire at the Mercer Group International recycling yard. Rescue 23 was eventually called to the fire scene to help pick up hose.

#12 (#414) Friday, June 3 – Fire Alarm – Lawrence High School, 2500 block Princeton Pike

• Time of Alarm: 11:25 a.m. Time Returned: 11:48 a.m.
• Malicious false alarm. Stations 20, 21, 22, 23 responded.

#13 (#415) Friday, June 3 – Fire Alarm – 300 block Cold Soil Road 

• Time of Alarm: 11:55 a.m. Time Returned: 12:26 p.m.
• Alarm system malfunction. Stations 20, 22, 23 responded.

#14 (#416) Friday, June 3 – Rubbish Fire – 2600 block Lawrence Road (Route 206) 

• Time of Alarm: 2:51 p.m. Time Returned: 3:03 p.m.
• Small trash can fire. Stations 20, 23 responded.