UPDATED REPORT
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.
A past president of the Springfield Township Fire Company, Mr. Metzger is survived by his wife of 17 years, Adrienne, and his son, Adam, 14.
”I’m taking donations for the family,” said Chief Brian Kokotajilo of the Springfield Township Fire Company on Tuesday.
They were not at home at the onset of the fire, according to state police. The mother and son did arrive back to the area after emergency workers and law enforcement officers were on scene.
”All they have left is what they had with them in the car,” Chief Kokotajilo said. “They are pretty much short on everything.” (Information on how to make a donation is listed at the end of this article.)
Chief Kokotajilo said Mr. Metzger became a member of the Springfield Township Fire Company, which has 15 members today, 11 years ago.
”He was a heck of a firefighter," the chief said, noting that Mr. Metzger was active until a few years ago at which time he changed his status to that of a contributing member. However, the chief said Mr. Metzger still supported the company.
Fire departments from Springfield and surrounding municipalities responded to the Metzger home, 105 Columbus-Jobstown Road, to battle the fire at approximately 5:15 p.m. June 11.
”Everyone did everything they could possibly do once they found out a person was in the house . . . but the fire was too much,” Chief Brian Kokotajilo.
When he arrived, Chief Kokotajilo recalled that he saw fire burning the second floor and front of the house. He said there was also heavy fire burning the left side of the residence.
Additionally, the fire caused the roof to collapse.
Sgt. Brian Polite, an Office of Public Information spokesman for the New Jersey State Police, said on Monday that the cause and manner of Mr. Metzger’s death are pending further investigation.
”The cause of the fire is also pending,” he said.
”It was completely engulfed in flames,” Sgt. Polite said in reference to when Springfield Township police officers arrived to the three-acre property.
According to his obituary, Mr. Metzger 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.
Fire crews, many with water tenders, from Mansfield, Westampton, Easthampton, Wrightstown, North Hanover, Bordentown Township, New Egypt, Florence and Medford, among others, responded to fight the fire, according to Chief Kokotajilo.
The chief said there was concern that the fire could spread due to dry weather.
However, “It was close to under control around 7:30 (p.m.),” Chief Kokotajilo said. “There were hot spots.”
”Everyone did an outstanding job with assisting and putting the fire out,” the Springfield fire chief said. He noted that crews were dispersed throughout the neighborhood to make sure that the fire did not spread.
He estimated that approximately 75 firefighters fought the blaze.
Mr. Metzger’s remains were found in the basement of his home the next day.
Chief Kokotajilo said that a state police K-9 found the body after a search was conducted, which was held off overnight due to safety concerns.
”The dog found him the following morning,” Chief Kokotajilo said.
In addition to the Springfield officers, state police troopers from the Bordentown station and detectives from the arson and bomb unit and major crimes unit, as well as the state and county fire marshals, were all on scene, according to Sgt. Polite.
Mr. Metzger was born in Trenton in January 1960. According to his obituary, he had lived in Hamilton, Springfield and Plainsboro before returning to Springfield Township 12 years ago.
”He used to live in this community back when he was a child,” Chief Kokotajilo said.
In addition to his wife and son Adam, he also leaves behind a son and daughter from a previous marriage. They are Lawrence Metzger Jr. of Trenton; and Lauren Bird, and her husband, James, of East Windsor. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Taylor and James, among other extended family members.
”He was very talented when it came to electronics and communications systems,” Chief Kokotajilo said.
Mr. Metzger worked as an engineer and was also licensed to translate Morse code.
Chief Kokotajilo, who described Springfield as “a very small town, a farming community,” recalled that Mr. Metzger developed a system to bounce the digital frequency back to the frequency of the old scanners when radio waves were digitized.
Because of Mr. Metzger, “People didn’t have to go out and purchase the $500 scanner to listen to what was going on,” the chief said.
Mr. Metzger was a graduate of Northern Burlington County Regional High School.
Memorial services in his honor were held on Monday and Tuesday at Peppler Funeral Home in Bordentown City.
Donations for Mr. Metzger’s wife and teenage son may be mailed to Fire Chief Brian Kokotajilo, 2470 Monmouth Rd., Jobstown NJ 08041. For more information call he chief via 609-209-1197.

