Firefighters from Willingboro and several neighboring towns responded to an early evening house fire on July 18th. At 7:42 pm the department was called to 41 New Pond Lane for a house fire with persons possibly trapped in the home. While responding to the incident, Lieutenant Ferrell noticed a column of smoke coming from the Garfield North area. Engine 1613 arrived in four minutes to find heavy fire conditions from a front bedroom.

Upon arrival, Firefighter E. O'Donnell pulled a 1 3/4" hoseline and proceeded to the front of the home. Firefighter Bowe used a sledgehammer to force open the locked front door. Both firefighters then entered the home to start extinguishing the fire and searching for possible trapped persons. Lieutenant Ferrell had Westampton Engine 2723 connect 5" hose to a nearby hydrant, and he ordered Delran Ladder 2315 to set up in front of the house.

Chief of Department Burnett arrived on location, requested the County's 911 center to announce "all companies in service", and took over command of the incident. Lieutenant Ferrell then directed Westampton Engine 2723's crew to take a second 1 3/4" hoseline to the second floor, since fire was now coming through the roof of the house. The crews from Delran Ladder 2315 and Mount Laurel Ladder 3615 conducted two searches of the home and found no occupants.

Due to the aggressive fire attack by both hose crews, Chief Burnett was able to place the fire under control at 8:05 pm. The owners of the house were not home at the time of the fire. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries as a result of the fire.

An investigation was conducted by the Burlington County and NJ State Fire Marshals offices. An engine from Beverly and a ladder from Burlington City were on stand-by at Willingboro Fire Headquarters in case of other emergencies in the township. All units were clear from the scene at 12:26 am.