4 Houses Burned in Trenton 3-Alarmer

Athree-alarm fire in the state capital heavily damaged fourhouses and left more than two dozen people homeless on May 28, 2023. Trenton Fire Department’s D Platoon was on duty when just before 1110, units were dispatched fora fire involving the back porch of a Mott Street address. Several othercompanies were already committed to a gas leak on the opposite side of the city. An all hands was transmitted before first-due companies arrived. Finding the rears of two homes ablaze, Battalion Chief Ross Dale immediately ordered a second alarm. Interioroperations were initiated with multiple hoselines, but deteriorating conditions forced firefighters to transition to defensive exterioroperations. With fire extension confirmed in two more homes, the remaining on-duty city companies were called to the scene, elevating the incident to a third alarm. Live ammunition popping off in one of the burning homes hampered firefighting operations. It wasn’t until 1353 that the fire was declared undercontrol. According to the Red Cross, 26 people from eight families were displaced. Trenton’s Signal 22 canteen and a rehab unit from Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad were also on scene, along with multiple Trenton EMS ambulance crews. - Fire News photos by Michael Ratcliffe