Willingboro and neighboring fire departments were dispatched to a house fire in Pennypacker Park during the early morning hours of March 23rd. The units were dispatched at 4:55 am to the area of Pinafore Lane and Poplar Lane for a house fire. While enroute to the area, Engine 1613 and Supervisor 1610 (Captain Sitzenstock) were updated that police were on location at 38 Pinafore Lane reporting heavy smoke showing. Supervisor 1610 arrived and reported a 2 story home with fire showing from the side and rear of the home on the first floor. He requested "All Companies In Service", signifying a major fire.

Firefighter Centrone stretched a 2" hose line to the front door. Police then advised Lieutenant Ferrell that it's unknown if anyone was inside the home. Firefighter Carcasio and Lieutenant Ferrell had to force entry into the home. The crew made its way down the first floor hallway and found heavy fire and heat conditions in the downstairs bedrooms. While extinguishing the fire in the bedrooms, the second floor of one bedroom collapsed into the first floor. The crew then backed down the hallway and went to the second floor in an attempt to extinguish the fire that was extending to the upstairs.

The crew was only able to make a few steps on to the second floor due to the floors being weak. The crew then went back to the first floor and began extinguishing more fire and opened up the walls on the first floor. Mount Laurel Ladder 3615 arrived on scene and took a 1 3/4" hose line to the second floor and finished extinguishing the fire that was located in the attic. Beverly Engine 1222 replaced the Willingboro crew on the first floor and completed the extinguishment of the fire. Chief of Department Burnett was able to place the fire under control at 5:31 am.

There was nobody home at the time of the fire, and there were no fire service injuries as a result of the fire. An investigation was conducted by the Burlington County and NJ State Fire Marshal's Office. An engine from Westampton Fire Department covered Willingboro Fire Headquarters in case of other incidents in the township. All units were clear from the scene at 2:41 pm