Photo Gallery: Lawrence Crews Help at Hopewell Fire

Volunteer firefighters from Lawrence Township responded into Hopewell Township on Saturday (Sept. 24) to help battle a house fire on Chicory Lane, which is located off Brandon Road close to the Lawrence Township border.

The blaze was reported about 5:20 p.m. and burned for about an hour before it was officially declared under control. Firefighters from Lawrence Township's Lawrenceville, Lawrence Road and Slackwood volunteer fire companies were on the scene, along with firefighters from Pennington Borough, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township and Ewing Township.

Hopewell Township Police issued the following news release about the fire:

Type of Incident: Structure Fire

Date: 09-24-11                                              

Time: 5:11 PM

Location: 82 Chicory Lane, Hopewell Township (Brandon Farms), 2-story colonial single-family home

Involved Persons: Homeowners: Richard C. Stoop, 71; Barbara Stoop, 64

Description: At approximately 5:11 PM multiple Brandon Farms residents called 911 and reported that the chimney at 82 Chicory Lane was on fire. A neighbor notified the residents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stoop, about the fire. Mr. and Mrs. Stoop evacuated the home without injury and awaited fire personnel. First responders to the scene observed flame and smoke coming from the top portion of the chimney which spread alongside the home to a small portion of the roof. Additional fire personnel and equipment arrived and the fire was extinguished limiting fire damage to the chimney and rooms located near the chimney. The upstairs master bath and closet sustained smoke, water and fire damage. The first floor living room and basement suffered water damage.

Investigation: The fire is under investigation at this time by the Hopewell Township Police Department, the Hopewell Valley Bureau of Fire Safety, Mercer County Fire Marshall and Mercer County Prosecutors Office.  The cause of the fire remains undetermined and does not appear suspicious at this time.