Willingboro Ladder 1615 Responds To Columbus Farmers Market Fire

Willingboro Firefighters were apart of a four-alarm response to a fire at the Columbus Farmers Market in Springfield on November 18th. Ladder 1615 was called on the third alarm due to heavy fire in one section of the building and the fear of the fire spreading to other sections of the market. The unit was called to the incident at 2:38 pm. Upon arrival the crew was advised to set up the apparatus in front of the building.

Once 1615 was set up for operation, Captain Gardner and Firefighter Costello took hand-tools and power saws to assist with ventilation and fire control operations. Lieutenant Ferrell and Firefighter Robertson got the ladder of the truck in position to go into service once they received water. Lumberton Engine 1313 and Delanco Engine 1114 were able to form a relay from a nearby fire hydrant to supply water to 1615.

Lieutenant Ferrell operated the nozzle of the ladder for close to an hour in heavy smoke conditions and cold temperatures. At the height of the fire, there were four ladder trucks in service to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to other sections of the market. Once the fire was fully contained, the crew was given orders to shut down their operations. The crew was released from the scene at 4:54 pm.