Firefighters fight multiple blaze on Spring Street in Trenton

Alex BurtonFebruary 26, 2023

February 25, 2023

TRENTON, New Jersey (MERCER). A firefighter was injured while fighting a multi-alarm fire that destroyed two houses on Spring Street today (Saturday, February 25). It took firefighters nearly two hours to bring the fire under control.

It was just before 11:55 a.m. when engines 1, 8, and 10, ladder 4, and rescue 1 were dispatched to the 300 block of Spring Street in response to numerous 911 calls reporting a house fire. Vehicle 1 quickly arrived at the scene and reported a massive fire at the back of a three-story duplex located at 305 and 307 Spring Street.

An “All Hands” signal was transmitted to an active fire and the remainder of the full first alert was sent – Engine 9, Ladder 1 and Special Services 1.

Some time later, the incident commander submitted the following progress report: “Controller, the original fire building will be 305.” [Spring Street], three-storey one-and-a-half. We have heavy fire on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd divisions. We have three [hose]lines in operation. We also have a fire in 307 [Spring Street] on the third floor. We have an inside line of attack.

Shortly after 12:30 p.m., with firefighters still using multiple hoses to put out the fire on all three floors of 305 Spring Street and the top floor of the adjoining house next door, the incident commander called a second alert for additional forces. Both Engine 7 and Ladder 2 (who had just returned to the city after helping with the Scotch Road fire in Ewing) responded.

At around 12:50 a.m., a “May Day” radio signal was transmitted, indicating a firefighter in distress. Fortunately, the emergency was quickly eliminated, and the injured firefighter was taken out of the building and taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The nature of the firefighter’s injuries is not reported, but they do not pose a danger to life.

As the fires were still burning in hard-to-reach voids within the structures, an additional company of engines and an additional company of ladders were called to the scene. These units were Engine 7 and Falls Township Ladder 30 (which were moved to Trenton along with other Mutual Aid units to help cover the city’s empty fire stations).

Finally, at 14:42 the fire was extinguished.

A special unit from the Hamilton Township Fire Department was also called to the scene to help refill the firefighters’ breathing air tanks after the Trenton Air Truck (Special Services 1) ran out of air.

Signal 22, the city’s volunteer police and fire canteen, also responded with treats for weary firefighters.

Other self-help companies from Hamilton, Bordentown City, and Morrisville, PA, arrived in Trenton and did other jobs while the Spring Street fire was put out.