MONTGOMERY: House fire and car fire in Montgomery

By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
   MONTGOMERY — The volunteer Montgomery fire departments worked hard over the weekend to fight a house fire and a car fire occurring two days apart.
   Both Montgomery fire departments along with fire stations from Rocky Hill, Hopewell and Hillsborough responded to a house fire in the basement at the 200 Block of Skillman Road on Friday, Feb. 17, at approximately 11 p.m.
   After almost five hours, firefighters were able to contain the fire to the basement by working from both inside and outside of the house. There were no injuries to the firefighters or occupants, but the family’s pet dog was killed.
   There was smoke damage through the house and additional smoke, water and fire damage in the basement.
   According to officials, arriving units saw smoke coming from the house and heavy smoke inside the house.
   Bill Ballinger, chief of the Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 2, said the use of newly acquired fire interruption grenades helped minimize the destructive nature of the basement fire.
   ”Basement fires pose significant challenges and are very difficult for firefighters,” he said. “The department was disappointed that it was unable to locate the family’s dog in the smoke-filled house and extremely saddened by the ultimate loss of the dog.”
   The cause is still unknown and is under investigation by the Montgomery fire marshal.
   Montgomery fire stations also responded to a car fire at the 100 Block of Route 533 on Feb. 19 at approximately 12:30 a.m. Officials said the car was fully in flames and within 10 feet of a house.
   There were no injuries to firefighters or occupants and damage was limited to the car along with minor damage to a vehicle parked immediately next to the car.
   ”Gasoline, plastics and electronic components of modern cars make car fires dangerous,” said Mr. Ballinger. “With little sleep after working a fire the night before, volunteer firefighters worked quickly to assure that the fire did not spread to the home or completely destroy the car parked next to it.”
   The cause of the car fire is also under investigation.