SPRINGFIELD: Community bands together for wife, son of fire victim

By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
  SPRINGFIELD — Members of the community are rallying together for the wife and son of Lawrence Metzger, 52, who died after his home engulfed in flames a week before Father’s Day.
   ”He was found in the basement area,” said Sergeant Brian Polite, an Office of Public Information spokesman of the New Jersey State Police, on Monday.
   Sgt. Polite said that the cause and manner of death are pending further investigation.
   ”The cause of the fire is also pending,” he said.
   When Springfield Township police officers arrived to 5 Columbus-Jobstown Rd., at approximately 5 p.m., June 11, “It was completely engulfed in flames,” Sgt. Polite said of the two  story residence.
   Fire departments from surrounding municipalities responded to the residential fire, Sgt. Polite said, in addition to state police troopers from the Bordentown station and detectives from the arson and bomb unit and major crimes unit. The Burlington Co. Fire Marshal was also on scene at 5 Columbus-Jobstown Rd.
   The victim’s wife and son arrived home while the house was already on fire, according to Sgt. Polite.
   Mr. Metzger’s remains were not found until a day after the fire.
   He was born in Trenton in January 1960.
   According to his obituary via Peppler Funeral Home, he was a volunteer fireman for more than 20 years and was a past chief for Plainsboro Fire Department. He was also a past president of the Springfield Township Fire Company. Mr. Metzger worked as an engineer and was also licensed for Morse Code.
   He leaves behind his wife Adrienne, of 17 years, and son, Adam, 14.
   Mr. Metzger also leaves behind a son and daughter from a previous marriage. They are Lawrence C. Metzger Jr. of Trenton; and Lauren P Bird, and her husband James, of East Windsor.
   Donations and gift cards are being collected for Adrienne Metzger by the Springfield Township Fire Company through Fire Chief Brian Kokotajilo.
   Memorial services for Mr. Metzger are scheduled for Monday night and 9 a.m. Tuesday at Peppler Funeral Home in Bordentown City.
   Donations may be mailed to Fire Chief Brian Kokotajilo, 2470 Monmouth Rd., Jobstown NJ 08041. For more information call Fire Chief Kokotajilo via 609-209-1197.