Garage Fire in Hamilton
Story by: Steven Kadir
Hamilton – On August 4, 2007 Station 17(Hamilton Fire District
#7), Engine 12(Hamilton Fire District #2), and Engine 40(Washington Twp. Fire
Department) were dispatched to 4081 Nottingham Way for a dwelling. Chief 17(Gary
Dempster) signed in service and on location within minutes of dispatch. Chief
Dempster advised Mercer County Dispatch that he had a 1 story single-family wood
frame house with heavy fire in the attached garage, and heavy smoke through out.
Chief Dempster took command, and advised Engine 17 to lead off with an inch
1.75-hand line. Engine 17 arrived on location and went into service with an inch
1.75-hand line. Engine 12 arrived right behind Engine 17 and assisted with
establishing a supply and deploying a second inch 1 .75 hand line. Engine 40
arrived and assisted with “truck” work. Mercer County advised command that no
Truck Company had signed in service. Command then had the next due Ladder added
to the box. This brought in Tower 18(Hamilton Fire District #8). Tower 17 signed
in service a few minutes later, and then followed by Tower 18. As initial crews
were trying to knock down the fire the main electrical feed to the house brunt
threw and fell to the ground. Command requested the electrical company with a
rush and advised all units to use caution on the fire ground. Crews had the fire
knocked down with in about 30 minutes. There was smoke, water and some fire
extension to the house. Crews remained on scene for over an hour overhauling and
checking for hot spots. Due to the excessive heat and humidity crews were
rotated threw rehab and watched for heat exhaustion. Rehab was provided by
Robert Wood Johnson EMS. Also the homeowner was checked by Robert Wood Johnson
EMS and refused medical treatment.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by Hamilton District #7 Fire
Marshall, Hamilton Twp. Police Department, and Mercer County Fire Marshals
Office.
