The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
UPDATE 2: The township Office of Fire Prevention has determined that the cause of the fire was not suspicious, according to a message from township police. But, because of the extensive damage to the building, “the actual cause of the fire could not be determined.”
UPDATE: Two firefighters were injured fighting a blaze Mach 6 at an Easton Avenue office building.
One firefighter slipped on ice and the second suffered from hypothermia, according to a press release from the Franklin Township police.
The firefighters were taken to an area hospital for treatment and released, according to the release.
Firefighters were on the scene of the fire until 6 a.m. March 7 extinguishing flare-ups in the structure, according to the release.
The cause of the fire at 888 Easton Ave. is still under investigation, according to the release.
An alarm was received from the building at about 7:42 p.m. March 6, according to the release. Upon arrival, firefighters found black smoke coming from the building.
The fire spread quickly through the building, according to the release. Portions of Easton Avenue and Foxwood Drive were shut down through the night to accommodate the firefighting apparatus, according to the release.
According to the release, firefighters from the following agencies were on scene and battled the blaze: East Franklin Volunteer Fire, Community Volunteer Fire, Somerset Fire and Rescue, Elizabeth Avenue, Middlebush Volunteer Fire, Franklin Park Volunteer Fire, Griggstown Volunteer Fire, Kingston Fire, New Brunswick Fire Department, North Brunswick Fire Company #2 and Finderne Fire Department.
Photo: East Franklin Volunteer Fire Co.
Additionally, Fire Companies from South Bound Brook and Bound Brook were on stand-by. Fire Mutual Aid Coordinators from both Somerset and Middlesex Counties were on scene as well.
Original Story: Members of the EMS Task Force were on scene including personnel from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Franklin-Somerset First Aid Squad, Hillsborough Emergency Medical Services and Somerville First Aid.
A fire March 6 in the attic of an Easton Avenue office building will disrupt business for a number of its tenants, including state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17).
The fire at 888 Easton Ave. was called in on an alarm at about 7:40 p.m. Firefighters were still at the scene four hours later, and one lane of Easton Avenue between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Foxwood Drive was closed. Police were not letting drivers in the shopping centers exit onto Easton Ave.
Smoke could be seen billowing out of holes in the building’s roof, and second-floor windows appeared to have been broken out.
Danielsen had just recently opened his office in the building. He said March 6 that he would be looking for temporary quarters for his staff.
Police could not immediately release any information on the fire, and the extent of damage or the fire’s cause was not yet known.
Video courtesy of Assemb. Joe Damielsen.
Fire at Easton Avenue Office Building
