Wind Driven Fire Damages Several Structures

An early evening fire in Somerset Park damaged a home and two sheds on April 7th. At 1900 hours the department was sent to 139 Sheffield Drive for a grass fire. While enroute Captain Ramsey noticed a large column of smoke from the neighborhood. As the crew arrived on scene they found a large shed, a house on fire, and two wooden fences on fire. Windy conditions were spreading the fire to other structures. Captain Ramsey advised the county's Communications Center to place "All Companies In Service", signifying a major fire.

Willingboro crews started to attack the shed and fence fire with 1 3/4" handlines, and a crew from Burlington Township started to extinguish the house that was on fire. As the crews were extinguishing these fires, Captain Ramsey noticed a shed on fire behind a house on neighboring Shawmont Lane. With three fires now burning, Captain Ramsey assigned a crew from Beverly and Burlington City to extinguish the additional fire. The crews started to extinguish the fires before they spread to a nearby home.

While the crews were extinguishing the third fire they also had to contend with a down power line and 55 gallon drums with unknown contents. Public Service Electric was called to secure the power line, and there was no damage to the drums by the fire. The crews were able to get all three fires under control at 7:24 pm. The house sustained damage to both the inside and outside, and both sheds were heavily damaged by the fire.

The Willingboro Township Construction Official's Office was called to determine if the home was inhabitable due to the damage from the fire. The Burlington County Fire Marshal's Office was also called to the scene. The fire was determined to be caused by kids lighting pine needles on fire. There were no injuries as a result of the fire and all units were cleared from the scene at 9:35 pm.