2nd Alarm Fire In South Brunswick

May 19, 2020

Update from South Brunswick Police Department:

The fire on Ridge Road has been extinguished and the roadway has been reopened. The 2 alarm fire consumed the two-story wooden barn within minutes of the call. Firefighters from Monmouth Junction, Kendall Park, Kingston, Plainsboro, North Brunswick, Jamesburg, and the NJ State Forestry Service battled the blaze. High winds caused embers from the fire to go into the nearby neighborhoods causing small grass and tree fires. Several homes on Hillside Avenue and Mary Street were briefly evacuated at the onset of the fire. Firefighters from Brookview, Franklin Park, Griggstown & Montgomery covered South Brunswick fire stations during the incident.

The fire which was reported at 12:33 pm resulted in the destruction of one of the oldest structures in the Township. The two-story barn at 600 Ridge Road was part of the historical Long Bridge Farm that once housed George Washington’s troops. South Brunswick Fire Marshal determined the fire was caused by an electrical wire that fell on the barn after a tree branch struck it.

Monmouth Junction Fire Chief Scott Smith said, “The high winds were rapidly pushing the fire and firefighters did an amazing job containing the fire to the barn. The wooden structure of the barn caused the fire to gain intensity quickly. The fire caused siding on a nearby building at the Oilco property next door to melt, as well as start grass and tree fires all the way to New Road. We had to do all we could to prevent it from spreading to other homes.”

In addition to the firefighting units, South Brunswick EMS, Monmouth Junction, and Plainsboro First Aid Squads responded. There were no injuries in the fire.

The fire resulted in the closure of Ridge Road from New Road to Route 522 until 4 pm.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–A wind whipped 2nd Alarm fire is consuming a structure in the 600 Block of Ridge Road. All South Brunswick Fire Departments as well as Plainsboro Fire Department are operating at the scene.

Further information will be provided once available.

Three dozen firefighters are battling a blaze on Ridge Road. The fire in a two story barn was reported at 12:33pm. Several surrounding homes on Hillside Avenue and Mary Street have been evacuated. Ridge Road is closed from Route 522 to New Road.

Additional details to follow later.