Story/Photos by Ryan Fenstermaker
Spotswood, NJ responded to this multiple alarm fire on August 11 at 5:45
p.m.
Police were on scene within a minute and confirmed a working fire
in the basement.
Arriving crews were met with a well involved basement with extension to
the first and later second floor.
They stretched two 1 1/2 handlines to
the basement but were only able to operate them for a short time.
The
initial interior crews were forced to pull out due to rapidly
deteriorating conditions.
At this point exterior operation were
initiated.
The entire kitchen floor collapsed into the basement. The
collapse resulted in a gas line rupture which fed heavy fire to the
first floor.
Utilities were shut down a short time later. The fire was
finally extinguished when mutual aid companies led by East Brunswick
Fire District 1 filled the basement with Hi-Ex foam.
Mutual aid
companies included East Brunswick Dist 1 and 2, Helmetta, Sayreville and
Monroe.
There were no injuries in the fire. Operations ceased after
midnight. Inspectors have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
