Blizzard-like conditions challenged firefighters early on Jan. 9 as they battled a stubborn fire that completely gutted a two-family home in Fords.
Fords firefighters were dispatched at 6:10 a.m. to King Georges Road for a report of smoke coming from the front of a house. While responding, smoke could be seen travelling down the block towards the firehouse.
Upon arrival, heavy smoke was showing from the front door of a large 2 1/2-story wood-frame dwelling. Heavy fire started to show out of the front door as firefighters began to stretch a handline.
The suppression crew entered through the front door to make an interior attack, but were forced to retreat when they reached the kitchen as the ceiling started to collapse. Firefighters backed out and then made a second attempt at an interior attack, but were forced to evacuate once again as conditions started to deteriorate rapidly. The flames broke through on the Charlie/Delta corner of the home and quickly spread to the second floor and attic.
The balloon-frame type of construction allowed the fire to travel the void spaces and consume the entire home.
Defensive operations were set up due to heavy fire conditions on all floors. Several handlines, a deck gun and a tower ladder were placed in service to extinguish the heavy volume of fire from the exterior. Water continued to flow for an extended period of time until all visible flames were darkened.
The fire was declared under control around 9:30 a.m., but firefighters continued to operate well beyond that conducting extensive overhaul and wrapping up frozen equipment.
Two of the occupants received minor injuries, one sustained burns to their hands and feet, and the other suffered minor smoke inhalation. Both patients were transported to the hospital and later released. There were no firefighter injuries reported at the scene.
Mutual aid fire departments from Hopelawn, Keasbey and Avenel responded to the scene to assist, while Carteret and Colonia covered the town. Carteret was later released to respond to a working fire back in their town on Union St. and was replaced by Metuchen.
Fords Fire Official Frank DellaPietro handled the investigation and found that an overloaded extension cord with a space heater sparked the blaze.
