Home Totally Destroyed By Fire - 3 Residents Escape Unharmed
 
By Firefighter Mark Robertson Sr.
October 31, 2014
 

Three residents were able to escape a house that was completely destroyed by fire at 72 Ember Lane. The department was notified of the fire at 3:25 am on October 18th. The Burlington County 911 Center received numerous calls of a house with fire through the roof. Engine 1613 and Ladder 1615 were on scene in seven minutes and Captain Sitzenstock confirmed a two-story home with fire coming through the roof. He advised the 911 Center to place "All Companies In Service", signifying a major fire.

Ladder 1615 parked in front of the house and prepared to go in service with its main ladder. Engine 1613 stopped at a nearby hydrant and connected a 5" hoseline to the hydrant. Once in front of the house the crew of Engine 1613 used the "deck gun" to start putting large amount of water on the fire, while a supply line was being established to the ladder truck. Once a 5" supply line was connected from the engine to the ladder, both units were in service delivering large amounts of water on the house which was now fully involved in fire.

Captain Sitzenstock had firefighters Centrone and Rydarowski pull two 1 3/4" handline to the front door in preparation for crews to enter the home once a majority of the fire was extinguished. This plan was quickly aborted as the roof and one of the walls collapsed into the home. The hoselines were then used to spray water onto neighboring homes which had their exterior siding damaged by the high heat of the fire. Additional crews from Westampton and Mount Laurel arrived on scene and assisted with the protection of the neighboring homes.

Chief of Department Burnett arrived on scene and took over Command of the incident. He immediately notified the Burlington County Fire Marshal's Office, the Willingboro Construction Office, and the Willingboro Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA). The water service to the home was shut off by the MUA. It was determined the home was without power at the time of the fire.

There were no injuries to firefighters or the residents as a result of the fire. Homes on either side of the one which burned suffered minor damage from heat and falling debris. An investigation on the cause of the fire is still ongoing. The American Red Cross will be assisting the residents with temporary housing and provisions. All units were available from the scene at 5:41 am.

 
Units: Chief 1600, Engine 1613, Ladder 1615, and Ambulance 1694
 
Mutual Aid: Westampton Engine 2723, Mount Laurel Battalion Chief 3620 and Ladder 3615, Moorestown RIC 3113, and Burlington City RIC 9061