By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
EAST WINDSOR — Monday, smoke from a fire filled the predawn sky as a barn was engulfed in flames at 240 Cedarville Road, killing one baby goat.
Other animals were safe from the fire, grazing in a small pasture alongside the house, according to Eric Coran, deputy fire chief of the East Windsor Vol. Fire Co. No. 2.
"When I arrived, it was fully engulfed in flames,” Deputy Fire Chief Coran said April 12.
Emergency workers responded at approximately 5:45 a.m. April 9.
"All the firefighters did a wonderful job protecting the home from not catching on fire and extinguishing the barn fire without any injuries,” Deputy Chief Coran said.
The East Windsor Township Police Department said the cause of the fire was determined to be a heating lamp that fell and ignited hay inside the barn. It had been used to house several farm animals.
No people were reported injured, East Windsor Township police said.
Deputy Fire Chief Coran said approximately 50 firefighters responded from 10 companies.
"It took roughly 40 men to fully extinguish the fire and no more than 20 men to handle the brush fire, which the state Forest Fire Service responded to assist,” he said, adding firefighters cleared the scene at approximately 7:30 a.m.
The brush fires spread from the flames of the barn fire.
Police said the adjacent residence sustained damage to its exterior siding as a result of the heat generated by the fire.
East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2, the West Windsor Fire Company and the Hightstown Engine Company No. 1 responded to the scene. Additionally, fire crews from Robbinsville, Cranbury, West Windsor, Plainsboro, Groveville, Princeton, Monroe and Millstone were on hand to assist.
Capital Health Systems EMS, East Windsor Rescue Squad District 1 and East Windsor Rescue Squad District 2 were also on the scene.
