Heavy Fire on Arrival At Ewing Township Blaze

Dispatched at 1324 on February 11, 2023, in response to multiple 911 calls, firefighters in Ewing Township in MercerCounty, arrived to Berwyn Avenue to find flames blowing out nearly every window on the second and third floors of a 2-1/2-story dwelling. Priorto arrival, responding crews from Prospect Heights (Station 31) and West Trenton (Station 33) volunteer fire companies and Ewing’s careerstaff (Squad 30) reported a large column of smoke visible formiles. Due to the volume of 911 calls, MercerCounty Central transmitted a full first alarm, which sent mutual aid to the scene from Lawrence (Engine 22), Pennington (Engine 51), Trenton (Ladder1), and Hamilton (Engine 2 and Truck 2). Firefighters initiated an aggressive interiorattack, however, heavy fire conditions and a collapse of the stairs to the third floor forced Prospect Heights Chief Doug Browerto order crews to evacuate and switch to defensive operations. Interioroperations laterresumed afterthe bulk of the fire was knocked down with exteriorhoselines and Squrt 31’s elevated masterstream. The blaze was finally declared undercontrol at 1427.

- Fire News photos by Michael Ratcliffe