Dumpster Fire Burns Close to Raritan New Construction

Raritan Fire Departments prevented a possible structure fire on Route 202 after North Branch Fire Chief David Hickson saw smoke from his offices in Raritan.

According to Hickson, he saw smoke from his offices near the three-story residential buildings under construction on Route 202, north of Quick Avenue by Ortho Pharmaceuticals.

Hickson said Raritan firefighters found a 30-yard dumpster fully on fire within 20 feet of the new construction.

"Wind was whipping the flames dangerously close to the new structure," he said.

Raritan firefighter Lou Laine deployed a deck gun from the fire apparatus, Hickson said, while he and Raritan firefighter Jeff McBride used a hand line to extinguish the blaze.

"The blaze was deep seated and impossible to extinguish without removing the contents from the dumpster," Hickson said.

Hickson said a construction worker was summoned to bring a back hoe to the dumpster and pull the contents while firefighters extinguished them as they were removed.

"The scene was declared under control within the 30-minute mark," he said.