School Board Storage Building Damaged By Fire
 
By Firefighter Mark Robertson Sr.
April 22, 2017
 

A small fire caused damage to a Willingboro Board Of Education storage building, and its contents, on the afternoon of April 19th. Fire and EMS units from Willingboro, and surrounding towns, were dispatched to the property at 1:26 pm for smoke coming from the building. In seven minutes, Delran Ladder 2315 and Willingboro Engine 1612 were on scene with light smoke coming from the building's roof. Captain Ramsey became the Command Officer, at which time he surveyed the entire building from the outside.

Firefighters Centrone, Lehuquet, and Connelly prepared to enter the building with a 1 3/4" hoseline to extinguish the fire. The crew from Ladder 2315 made their way to the roof in case they had to cut a hole in the roof to help remove heat and smoke from the building. Delran Engine 2312 arrived next and provided a water supply to Engine 1612 using a 5" supply line. The crew of 1612 found several small fires in the building, and a heavy smoke condition.

Chief of Department Burnett arrived on scene and took over as the Command Officer, and Captain Ramsey now became the Operations Officer. 1612's crew was able to quickly extinguish all of the fires in the building. Cinnaminson Engine 2011 arrived on scene and the crew was used to check areas in the building where fire was still burning in the walls. Crews from Delran were able to open the garage door of the building to help remove smoke and heat. Chief Burnett was able to place the fire under control at 1:54 pm.

An investigation was started by the New Jersey and Burlington County Fire Marshals Offices, along with the Willingboro Police Department Detective Bureau. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined at this time. There were no firefighter injuries as a result of the fire. All units were clear from the scene at 6 pm.

 
Units: Chief 1600, Engine 1612, and Ambulances 1691 and 1694
 
Mutual Aid: Delran Deputy Chief 2301, Engine 2312, and Ladder 2315, Mount Laurel Engine 3611, Moorestown RIT 3113, Westampton Engine 2723, and the New Jersey and Burlington County Fire Marshals Offices