March 14: Winter Storm Stella came though the area, leaving heavy snow, sleet and ice, leading to multiple calls for service:
Dwelling Fires: 2; Service Assignments (tree down): 10; Wires Down or Arching: 9; Assist Police: 1
March 14: 304 Franklinville Rd. in Woolwich Twp. Caller reported smelling something burning near the electrical panel. Rescue 1918 was the first arriving apparatus and backed down the driveway. Crews investigating determined the electric line coming into the house had been pulled down causing the burning smell. Crews were in service for 20 minutes. Also responding were Woolwich, Harrison Twp., Harrisonville, Gibbstown and Gloucester County EMS.
1918’s crew was getting ready to clear the scene when a large tree branch came down, bringing down electric lines along the roadway and trapping 1918 in the driveway. The crew had to wait another 30 mins for AC Electric to clear the wire before they could leave the scene.
March 15 through April 19
Dwelling Fires: 8; Building Fires: 6; Structure Fires: 1; Vehicle Fire: 2; Rubbish Fires: 1; Brush Fires: 2; Motor Vehicle Crashes: 4; Cardiac Arrest: 1; Fire Alarms: 5; Carbon Monoxide Alarm: 1; Fumes: 2; Wires Down or Arching: 2; Assist Police: 3; Medical Alarm: 1
March 15: 174 W. Tomlin Station Rd. for motor vehicle crash. Vehicle skidded off the icy road. There was no entrapment and no fire department services needed. Crews were in service for 15 minutes.
March 17: 174 W. Tomlin Station Rd. for motor vehicle crash. A second crash in three days at the same location. This time a vehicle stuck a pole and brought down three pole lengths of wires. Utility companies were notified. Crews were in service for 45 minutes.
March 21: Rt. 295, mile marker 17.8 for a vehicle fire, called in by GC EMS Unit 11 for a fully involved vehicle fire. Chief Gould (1901) confirmed the location to be mile marker 19.8 at the West Deptford Paulsboro line. GC Communications dispatched fire departments from those towns as well. While units were enroute BLS 11 and a passerby were able to knock the flames down with fire extinguishers. The crew from Rescue 1918 arrived and cooled down the hot spots. They stood by and waited for the tow to arrive. Units were in service for 46 minutes.
March 23: 53 Marl Rd. in South Harrison for a structure fire. Originally dispatched to 63 Mill Rd. in Woolwich Twp. for a dwelling fire, the mistake was due to a strong language barrier of the caller. The address was confirmed and units were redirected. Woolwich Chief 2502 was first on scene and reported heavy fire in a barn. Due to the lack of hydrants, a water shuttle operation was put in effect and water tenders from the area were dispatched. Engine 1911 was in pump operations from the water drop location to the scene, Tender 1914 was shuttling water and Chief Gould (1901) was put in charge of water supply operations. Crews were in service for 3-1/2 hours. Also responding were Harrisonville, Woolwich, Harrison, Elk, Gibbstown, West Deptford, Logan, Salem County Stations 12-1, 12-5, and 12-7 and GC EMS. Gloucester County Fire Marshall is investigating.
March 31: Cedar Rd. at Sharp Dr. for wires down. Caller reported hearing an explosion and then seeing wires hanging down. Somehow, the top part of the electric pole snapped, bringing down power lines. Atlantic City Electric was notified, Cedar Rd. was shut down and units stood by for safety. Crews were in service for 1 hour and 46 minutes.
April 1: 99 Quail Ridge Way for an assist police call. A dog had gotten stuck under a shed and was unable to get out. Units were called to lift the shed up to allow access to the dog. Enroute, the owner was able to free the dog and the station was recalled. Crews were in service for 15 minutes.
April 2: Harmony Rd. at Doerrmann Dr. for a smoke investigation. Chief Gould (1901) was the first to arrive and reported an illegal burn. The call was upgraded to a rubbish fire. The fire was extinguished. The home owner was advised. Crews were in service for 19 minutes.
April 6: 324 Borrelli Blvd. for a fire alarm. While enroute, GC Communications advised Chief Gould (1901) that EGPD was on location reporting fire on the west side of the building. The call was upgraded to a building fire. 1901 arrived and reported a subdivided warehouse with heavy smoke from a 300’ x 400’ section occupied by Custom Pallet & Packaging. He advised GC Communications to strike the All Hands Box. Crews stretched hose lines to the west side, but were momentarily pushed back by an exploding propane cylinder. Ladder 1916 laddered the front side of the building, and an additional line was stretched into the building. Crews extinguished the fire. The GC Fire Marshall conducted their investigation and crews finished off hot spots and overhaul. Crews were in service for 2 1/2 hours. Also responding were Harrison, Woolwich, Paulsboro, Gibbstown, Woodbury Heights, West Deptford, Woodbury, Logan, Westville and GC EMS
April 7: 324 Borrelli Blvd for a building fire. 01:16, EGTFR was dispatched back to 324 Borrelli Blvd. for a structure fire. GC Communications reported multiple calls for heavy fire explosions. 1901 immediately advised GC Communications to dispatch the All Hands Box. Engine 1911 was ordered to lead off with a large ground monitor nozzle and to supply Ladder 1916 with water. Chief Gould the told County to upgrade to the First Alarm Box. Thirty minutes into the fire, crews were ordered to evacuate the building due to roof beginning to collapse. Crews began fighting the fire from the exterior. Water issues hampered firefighting efforts. 1901 called for the Large Diameter Hose (LDH) Task Force and a Tender Task Force to aid in water supply. One side of the building was supplied by a combo of hydrants and the water tenders, while the other was supplied by a relay of large hose and engines from the scene all the way to a hydrant at the Paulsboro Wawa. This caused Exit 18 of Rt. 295 to be shut down. With a bulk of the fire knocked down, crews were able to get on the un-collapsed part of the roof for a better look and begin cooling hot spots, while crews on the ground began overhaul. GC Fire Marshall conducted the investigation, aided by an Accelerant Detection K-9 from the GC Sheriffs. The fire was finally declared out at 07:30. Crews were in service for 7 hours and 13 minutes. Also responding were Harrison, Woolwich, Paulsboro, Gibbstown, Woodbury Heights, West Deptford, Woodbury, Logan, Westville, National Park, Deptford, Washington Twp, Wenonah, Mantua, Glassboro, Pitman, Harrisonville, Elk Twp, Franklin Twp, Newfield, GC Field Comm. 2, Westmont (Camden Co.), Salem County Sta. 12-5, Salem County Canteen 6 and GC EMS.
East Greenwich Twp. Fire and Rescue is an all-volunteer emergency response department protecting East Greenwich and its surrounding communities. Anyone interested in joining us, please e-mail recruitment@district19.org, call 856-423-6916 or stop by the Cohawkin Rd station on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
