By Stephanie Vaccaro, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — A fire destroyed an unoccupied house Friday morning at 49 Bedens Brook Road.
Firefighters responded to a call from a neighbor made at 6:08 a.m.
Police said the vacant house was for sale, but it appeared to be a total loss. No injuries were reported.
The owner, Julius Sesztak, a local builder, could not be reached for comment.
”I was the first to arrive,” said Fire Chief Bill Ballinger of the Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 2. “I actually live relatively close to the house. When I arrived on scene, there was fire coming from a number of windows in the front of the house.”
”After checking all sides of the house, we saw that the fire had advanced and was advancing rapidly through the structure,” Chief Ballinger said.
Firefighters laid a 2,000-foot hose from one hydrant and then a second, 1,600-foot hose from another to fight the fire. Generally, only one hose is needed, but the large size of the house necessitated the additional hose, the chief said.
”It was actually an extremely good job done by all the firefighters as well as the support departments of the EMS and the police department,” Chief Ballinger said.
Fire companies responded from Montgomery Township No. 1 and No. 2, Hopewell, Rocky Hill, Flagtown, Griggstown, Kingston and Princeton. Montgomery and Hillsborough EMS also responded, police said.
Lawrenceville and two stations from Hillsborough provided coverage to Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill while they were at the scene.
Police Lt. James Curry said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. It will be carried out by the Montgomery police, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and Montgomery Township fire officials.
