Firefighters from Willingboro and several neighboring departments needed 44 minutes to control an early morning house fire in Hawthorne Park. On the morning of December 21st, units were called to 19 Hornblende Lane for a kitchen fire at 8:15 am. Captain Gardner, Engine 1613, and Westampton Chief 2700 all reported a visible column of smoke from several blocks away. Chief 2700 requested "All Companies In Service" which indicates a major incident. When Engine 1613 arrived on location at 8:19 am, they found fire coming from the garage and rear of the home.

Lieutenant Costello and Firefighter Fresco used a 1 3/4" hoseline to start extinguishing the fire from the outside of the home. A 5" water supply hose was connected from Engine 1613 to a nearby fire hydrant. Westampton Chief 2700 assumed command of the incident, and Captain Gardner was the Operations officer. Upon the arrival of Westampton Engine 2722, the crew of Engine 1613 made entry into the home with their hoseline.

While the crew of Engine 1613 was extinguishing the fire inside of the home, Engine 2722's crew used a second 1 3/4" hoseline to start extinguishing the fire which had spread to an enclosed porch on the rear of the home. Once the fire on the porch was extinguished, they entered the home to assist 1613's crew with completing fire extinguishment in the kitchen and garage. A crew from Mount Laurel Engine 3611 arrived on scene and was sent to the second floor to check for any spreading fire. No fire was found on the second floor.

Firefighters from Burlington Township Squirt 3014 relieved the crew of Engine 1613 and checked for any hidden fire on the first floor. Chief of Department Burnett arrived on scene and assumed command from Chief 2700. He placed the fire under control at 8:59 am. The natural gas, electric, and water services to the home were all disconnected by the appropriate utility companies.

One firefighter from an assisting fire department was transported to the hospital for an arm injury. None of the residents who were in the home were injured as a result of the fire. The Burlington County Fire Marshals Office responded to the scene and conducted an investigation. The cause of the fire did not appear to be suspicious at the time of the investigation

The Willingboro Township Construction Office sent a representative to the scene and condemned the home due to the heavy fire damage. The American Red Cross responded to the incident and provided temporary housing for the residents of the home. Willingboro Public Works brought a salt truck to the scene and covered the roadway due to ice on the roadway.

All units were available at 12:42 pm.