NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fast moving fire that ripped through a two-family home, leaving one dead and two others injured.
On Dec. 12, at approximately 10:10 p.m. the New Brunswick Fire Department responded to 204 Easton Ave. for a structure fire.
Firefighters found heavy fire blowing out of the rear second-floor windows of the two-and-a-half-story wood-frame home.
A water supply was established and firefighters advanced hand lines inside up to the second floor where they were faced with heavy fire conditions.
Despite firefighters gaining access to the second floor and making an aggressive attack, the flames quickly advanced to the third floor and roof. Interior conditions deteriorated rapidly, forcing firefighters to evacuate and battle the blaze from the exterior.
Intense fire conditions caused the third floor to weaken and collapse into the second.
Several master streams were set up to protect exposures and douse the flames from the outside. A tower ladder was set up to flow elevated streams to extinguish fire in the roof that could not reached from the ground.
Master streams continued to flow for a couple hours until the bulk of the fire was darkened.
The fire was declared under control around 1:00 a.m., but firefighters remained on scene until the early morning hours conducting overhaul and picking up equipment.
The two-family home was completely destroyed, leaving nothing but a charred, weakened, and partially collapsed structure.
The two neighboring homes sustained damage from the intense blaze.
The American Red Cross was summoned to find shelter for the displaced tenants.
The Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the cause of death of the second floor resident.
The two injured occupants were transported to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick and were treated and later released.
Mutual aid fire departments from North Brunswick, East Brunswick, Edison, and Franklin Twp. responded to the scene to assist.
The fire does not appear to be suspicious, but officials are investigating.
