Firefighters Battle Garage Fire

ROBBINSVILLE – August 30, 2010 – IAFF Local 3786 Firefighters from the Robbinsville Division of Fire battled a garage fire on George Street in Town Center this morning. 

Firefighters were alerted to a fire after a 9-1-1 call was placed by the resident who noticed heavy smoke coming from his attached garage today.  Robbinsville Engine 40 arrived within minutes of the dispatch and found a working fire in the attached garage in the rear of the residence.  The crew of Engine 40 stretched a 1 ¾ inch attack line and knocked down the fire with an aggressive interior attack, preventing the fire from spreading in to the occupied residence. 

Robbinsville firefighters were assisted at the scene by Hamilton Township Ladder 17, Engine 12, Engine 19 and Engine 16 (RIT) as well as Monroe Township Truck 57 (RIT).  Medical standby and rehab was provided by Capital Health EMS.  There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.  The cause of the fire was believed to be accidental and residents were not displaced by the fire.  In the attached photos note the melted vinyl siding on the exterior of the garage from the heat of the fire inside.

Residents are reminded of the importance of working smoke detectors and contacting 9-1-1 immediately upon noticing smoke or fire in their home or a neighboring home.  Fires in Robbinsville Town Center and other similar sub-divisions can rapidly spread from one home to another due to the close proximity of the dwellings and the materials used to construct these houses.  A rapid notification of the fire department and a quick response of properly staffed fire department units are the only way to prevent a small fire from quickly engulfing one home and spreading to neighboring houses. 

Here is a video on the subject prepared after a fire in a similar neighborhood in a Washington, D.C. suburb.  Take a look at the video and see how strongly this neighborhood resembles the Robbinsville Town Center: