November 1, 2023

Photos and story by: Mike Ratcliffe

TRENTON (Mercer) – One firefighter was hurt while helping battle a blaze in an autobody shop on Halloween (Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023). It was just before 5:35 p.m. when the first of several 911 calls started coming in reporting a fire in the area of the 500 block of South Broad Street. Engines 3, 10 and 7, Ladder 2, Rescue 1, and Battalion 1 were dispatched.

With multiple calls being received, the assignment was immediately upgraded to an “All Hands” and the remainder of the first alarm was sent – Engine 1, Ladder 4, Special Services 1, and Battalion 7. Redirected while enroute to 224 Furman Street, firefighters arrived to find smoke showing from the roof of R&R Auto Body. A 2.5-inch hoseline was stretched. Crews forced entry and found a working fire inside. The bulk of the fire was quickly knocked down, but it was not officially declared under control until 6:01 p.m. One firefighter reportedly suffered a laceration and was transported to hospital by Trenton EMS.

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