FLORENCE: Township firefighters hurt after commercial trailer explosion on 295 south

By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
   FLORENCE — Seven firefighters were injured, one seriously, after responding Thursday afternoon to a burning commercial tractor-trailer stopped on the shoulder southbound lane of 295, according to the New Jersey State Police.
   ”Troopers from Bordentown station responded to the truck fire,” said NJ State Police spokesperson Trooper Christopher Kay on June 1, just after 1:30 p.m. May 31.
   ”During the course of engaging the fire seven firefighters from Florence were injured,” said Trooper Kay. “Six of the seven (firefighters) were taken to Virtua Hospital (in Mount Holly) for minor injuries.”
   The seventh man was airlifted to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, he said.
   He has been identified as Florence firefighter Brian Richardson elsewhere in the media, although Trooper Kay could not confirm that information with the Register-News on Friday as of press time.
   ”He suffered from serious head injuries when the trailer doors kind of  blasted opened,” Trooper Kay said, noting that the firefighter had been standing near the rear of the truck at the time of the explosion.
   The driver of the truck, Jeffrey Gaines, 44, of Philadelphia noticed some smoke coming from the trailer and stopped to assess the mechanical issue, according to the State Police. There was no information as of press time as to who was the owner of the truck, which was carrying produce.
   Trooper Kay said that the cause of the fire and explosion were under investigation.
   The right lane and shoulder of 295 southbound were shut down for approximately eight hours, Trooper Kay said.
   After the firefighters were injured, the north and south bound lanes were both such down for the medical evacuation of the firefighters to occur, after which time the northbound route was reopened followed by two of the southbound lanes, according to  Trooper Kay.
   The fire took place at the 51.8 mile post of 295 south, he said.
   Local law enforcement and investigating units of the State Police, including an arson bomb unit and a commercial inspection unit, responded to the scene to investigate, Trooper Kay stated.
   Twenty-four hours after the Florence firefighter was seriously injured, there was still no update of his condition, as of press time, according to the State Police.