Crime & Safety

Three Cars Engulfed in Parking Lot Fire

The blaze was on Corporate Boulevard in Bridgewater.

Three cars were fully engulfed in a fire spreading through the parking lot on Corporate Boulevard Friday morning, according to North Branch Fire Chief David Hickson.

Hickson said firefighters were dispatched to a report of a car fire around 10 a.m. at 55 Corporate Boulevard, but, upon arrival, found three cars fully involved in the fire.

The engine that first arrive from the Green Knoll Fire Company used a hand line to knock down the fire and prevent it from spreading, Hickson said. When North Branch engines arrived, a second hand line was used, he said.

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"Realizing that the fire was too large to extinguish with tank water from the responding engine's [Green Knoll Fire] Chief [Jim] Vitale requested a tanker from the Far Hills Fire company to supply water," Hickson said. "Firefighters were hampered by burning tires, gasoline and magnesium auto parts, all of which are very difficult to extinguish."

Hickson said firefighters had to use a foam line to extinguish the fire, which was petroleum-based.

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"They had all three cars fully under control within 10 minutes," he said.

The Somerset County HazMat Team was dispatched because of run-off fuel and other hazardous materials that were being sent to the storm sewers because of the heavy rain falling during the fire, Hickson said.

The fire is currently under investigation, Hickson said, but a cause may not be easy to find.

"Based upon the volume of fire and destruction from the same, it may be a very difficult task for fire officials," he said.

The responding units were the Green Knoll Fire Company, North Branch Fire Company, Far Hills Fire Company, Martinsville Rescue Squad, Bridgewater Township Police Department and Somerset County HazMat.

The fire units remained on the scene for about 45 minutes, and the county HazMat team is continuing to investigate the site.


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