Resident Burned At Early Afternoon Fire

Willingboro Firefighters responded to a house fire at 43 Fairmount Drive on January 17th that caused burns to a resident from the home. Engine 1613 arrived four minutes after being dispatched at 1:17 pm and found the front of the house well involved in fire. Captain Sitzenstock had Engine 1613 stop at a hydrant and connect a 5" line before proceeding to the house. He also advised the county's Communications Center to place "All Companies In Service".

Firefighter C. Clark pulled a 2" handline from 1613 and proceeded into the structure with Firefighter Carty. Firefighter Carty started to ventilate the home while performing a search for any possible remaining occupants under heavy heat and smoke conditions. Firefighter E. O'Donnell used a tool to break windows from the outside to help remove smoke and heat from the home. He then proceeded to check a neighboring home to make sure the fire had not spread.

Chief of Department arrived on location and established a Command Post. Beverly Chief 1200 arrived and became the Operations Officer as the crew from Engine 1222 proceeded inside to assist the crew of Engine 1613. The crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire and check the entire home for any injured occupants and spreading fire. The fire was placed under control at 1:50 pm.

Crews from Delran and Mount Laurel later entered the home to make sure there was no hidden fire in the home or attic prior to the investigation. Willingboro Ambulance 1691 transported an occupant of the home to Cooper Medical Center in Camden for treatment of severe burns. The occupant was later transferred to a burn unit in Philadelphia.

The fire was investigated by the Burlington County Fire Marshal's Office. The fire appears to have been caused accidentally. Due to the severe damage from the fire, a company was called to the scene to secure the property. Fire crews from Westampton and Burlington City were standing by at Willingboro Fire Headquarters in case of any other incidents in the township. All crews were released from the scene at 4:50 pm