| 05-24-07 1549 hours Dwelling Fire Old Deerfield Pike All photos courtesy of Ryan Feaster |
Upper Deerfield Volunteer Fire Co. #3 (Station 33)
was dispatched with Co #1 (Station 31) and Upper
Deerfield Emergency Medical Services (Squad 34) at
1549 hours for a reported dwelling fire on Old Deerfield
Pike. Seabrook Fire and Rescue (Station 32) Captain
Douglas Zirkle arrived on scene and confirmed the fire
to be "working," which automatically added his station to
the alarm. Engine 3301 was first apparatus on scene
and the crew was met by heavy smoke and fire from the
B/C corner. A 1 3/4 inch hose line was stretched and
crews attacked the brunt of the fire from the rear,
making entry from a patio at the seat of the fire.
Meanwhile, firefighters from Station 31 forced entry from
the front, stretching a second 1 3/4 inch line, and
additional personnel vented windows and attacked from
the exterior. Under the command of 33-32, Assistant
Chief Mickey Crackovich, the majority of the quickly
spreading fire was knocked down in less than 15
minutes. A few stubborn hot spots in the 100+ year old
balloon-frame home kept crews busy for over an hour.
Rosenhayn Fire and Rescue (Station 29) came to assist
us once again and provided man power as well as
cascade services. The City of Bridgeton Fire
Department (Station 7) was also called for their 75'
"quint" ladder truck (Ladder 705) to provide roof
ventilation.
The fire was contained to the rear of the first floor,
which sustained serious damage from the fire as well as
considerable smoke and water damage. No civilian or
firefighter injuries resulted from the blaze. It is currently
under investigation by the New Jersey State Division of
Fire Safety, aided by The City of Bridgeton Fire
Department's Lt. Todd Bowen with his arson dog, Jake.
At the time of this printing, no cause had been
determined, but it is not believed to be suspicious.
Just over an hour into battling this fire, a second
"working" house fire was dispatched in the Township on
State Highway 77 in District 31. Centerton Fire
Company (Salem County Station 23) who had already
been placed on standby to cover the North end of the
Township and Hopewell-Stow Creek Fire Department
(Station 21) who was covering the South end
responded immediately and made another great stop.
Tragically it was discovered that it was the home of a
Station 31 firefighter who was busy helping extinguish
the first fire. This is believed to be the first time in the
Township's history that there were two simultaneous
"working" house fires. More on the second fire
elsewhere in the site.
Upper Deerfield Volunteer Fire Company #3 would
like to extend our deepest gratitude to our neighboring
companies who provided assistance to our company
and our citizens: The City of Bridgeton Fire Department
(Sta 7), Rosenhayn Fire and Rescue (Sta 29),
Hopewell-Stow Creek Fire Department (Sta 21),
Centerton Fire Company (Salem County Sta 23), and
Alloway Fire and Rescue (Salem County Sta 19).
was dispatched with Co #1 (Station 31) and Upper
Deerfield Emergency Medical Services (Squad 34) at
1549 hours for a reported dwelling fire on Old Deerfield
Pike. Seabrook Fire and Rescue (Station 32) Captain
Douglas Zirkle arrived on scene and confirmed the fire
to be "working," which automatically added his station to
the alarm. Engine 3301 was first apparatus on scene
and the crew was met by heavy smoke and fire from the
B/C corner. A 1 3/4 inch hose line was stretched and
crews attacked the brunt of the fire from the rear,
making entry from a patio at the seat of the fire.
Meanwhile, firefighters from Station 31 forced entry from
the front, stretching a second 1 3/4 inch line, and
additional personnel vented windows and attacked from
the exterior. Under the command of 33-32, Assistant
Chief Mickey Crackovich, the majority of the quickly
spreading fire was knocked down in less than 15
minutes. A few stubborn hot spots in the 100+ year old
balloon-frame home kept crews busy for over an hour.
Rosenhayn Fire and Rescue (Station 29) came to assist
us once again and provided man power as well as
cascade services. The City of Bridgeton Fire
Department (Station 7) was also called for their 75'
"quint" ladder truck (Ladder 705) to provide roof
ventilation.
The fire was contained to the rear of the first floor,
which sustained serious damage from the fire as well as
considerable smoke and water damage. No civilian or
firefighter injuries resulted from the blaze. It is currently
under investigation by the New Jersey State Division of
Fire Safety, aided by The City of Bridgeton Fire
Department's Lt. Todd Bowen with his arson dog, Jake.
At the time of this printing, no cause had been
determined, but it is not believed to be suspicious.
Just over an hour into battling this fire, a second
"working" house fire was dispatched in the Township on
State Highway 77 in District 31. Centerton Fire
Company (Salem County Station 23) who had already
been placed on standby to cover the North end of the
Township and Hopewell-Stow Creek Fire Department
(Station 21) who was covering the South end
responded immediately and made another great stop.
Tragically it was discovered that it was the home of a
Station 31 firefighter who was busy helping extinguish
the first fire. This is believed to be the first time in the
Township's history that there were two simultaneous
"working" house fires. More on the second fire
elsewhere in the site.
Upper Deerfield Volunteer Fire Company #3 would
like to extend our deepest gratitude to our neighboring
companies who provided assistance to our company
and our citizens: The City of Bridgeton Fire Department
(Sta 7), Rosenhayn Fire and Rescue (Sta 29),
Hopewell-Stow Creek Fire Department (Sta 21),
Centerton Fire Company (Salem County Sta 23), and
Alloway Fire and Rescue (Salem County Sta 19).
Firefighters Matthew Hewitt and Zachary English stretch the initial 1 3/4 inch line and prepare to make entry.
Firefighter Mathew Hewitt receives orders (from out of view) prior to making entry. Behind him, fire consumes the
B/C corner of the first floor.
B/C corner of the first floor.