A four-unit apartment building at 82-84 York St. in Lambertville was destroyed after a man fell asleep with a lit cigarette in his hand.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE Careless cigarette smoking started a fire on York Street that injured two firefighters, sent one man to the emergency room with burns and displaced 14 people three days before Christmas, according to Lambertville police.
A joint investigation involving the Lambertville police, New Jersey State Police Arson Unit and the Hunterdon County prosecutor’s office made a preliminary determination the fire was accidental, Lambertville Police Director Bruce Cocuzza said.
The fire gutted a duplex at 82-84 York St., a two-family attached dwelling that was divided to house four apartment units, owned by Harry Buchanan Sr.
Fourteen people resided in the four units. Some of the units housed families, but at least one housed non-related adults who were sharing a residence, according to Angela Nicodemus, spokeswoman for the Hunterdon County Branch of the American Red Cross.
The fire began 8:40 a.m. in a first-floor apartment at 84 York St. that was occupied by a 47-year-old man, Galen Skillman. Police said he fell asleep with a lit cigarette in his hand.
The lack of an attic firewall, common in older city structures, allowed the blaze to spread, Mr. Cocuzza said.
According to Deputy Fire Chief Lester Myers, no smoke alarms inside the duplex were sounding when firefighters arrived. He said he was uncertain if there were any functional smoke alarms in the apartments.
One woman resident said there was only one smoke alarm on her side of the building, according to Deputy Chief Myers.
Mr. Skillman suffered burns to both hands. He was taken to Hunterdon Medical Center and later transferred elsewhere for burn treatment, police said.
A firefighter suffered an ankle injury and another firefighter injured a shoulder, Deputy Chief Myers said. They were treated at Hunterdon Medical Center and released.
Fourteen people, including two children, ages 7 and 11, are being housed at a local hotel, Ms. Nicodemus said.
Many of the displaced are employed by Lambertville Station. Several work in the kitchen, several others in housekeeping and at least one in banquets, according to Cheryl Miller, executive assistant to the owners at the restaurant.
"Certainly the inn would be available to them if need be," she said.
Lambertville Social Services Director Bambi Kuhl is accepting donations on behalf of those who lost their homes in the fire. Donations may be sent to in care of Ms. Kuhl at City Hall, 18 York St., Lambertville, 08530.
In addition to city police and firefighters, responding to the scene were the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad and Raritan Township’s FAST team, a firefighter assistance unit. Volunteers from Titusville also responded.
At least four fires occurred in the county since Thanksgiving, and one was related to the burning of a holiday candle, according to Ms. Nicodemus.
As a caution to property owners, Deputy Chief Myers said, "Have smoke detectors. That’s all I can say."
The American Red Cross offers fire-safety tips at www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_584_,00.html.
"All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people," Ms. Nicodemus said.

