Two fires kept Hillsborough police, fire companies
and Rescue Squad members busy last week
By:Alec Moore
Local emergency personnel responded to a house fire on South Branch Road on April 24 and a commercial building fire on Weston Road on April 27.
The South Branch Road fire was reported at approximately 3:18 p.m. According to police, none of the home’s residents reported any injuries. However, an unidentified neighbor suffered a minor burn to his hand.
The neighbor in question had entered the home’s kitchen prior to the arrival of emergency services and removed a pan of grease from the home’s stove, which was determined to be the source of the house fire.
The fire then spread throughout the entire kitchen but was extinguished by responding firefighters from Fire Co. No. 36, Fire Co. No. 48 and Fire Co. No. 79.
Although the kitchen was the only part of the home that suffered extensive damage from the fire itself, the entire home suffered significant smoke damage.
An inspection of the residence by township building inspectors determined that the home was uninhabitable until the repairs could be made. South Branch Road was closed for approximately 90 minutes due to the blaze.
The Weston Road fire was reported at approximately 7:33 a.m. In addition to Hillsborough emergency personnel, the Manville Fire Department, Millstone Valley Fire Department, Franklin Township Fire Department and PSE&G also responded.
The fire caused extensive damage to the northwest corner of the building, where the source was located. Investigators have determined that the cause of the blaze was either a faulty power strip or an overheated computer. No injuries were reported.