April 2, 2022
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Several people were critically injured this evening (Saturday, April 2) in a multi-alarm fire that ravaged two attached homes on Carteret Avenue.
At least three Trenton firefighters were injured while battling the blaze.
This is a breaking news incident. There have been unconfirmed reports that some of the victims have died. We will update the story as more information becomes available and confirmed by authorities.
It was shortly before 6:55 p.m. the city’s 911 communications center was flooded with multiple 911 calls reporting a house fire with people trapped at 836 Carteret Avenue. Dispatched on the initial assignment were Engines 9, 8 and 1, Ladder 1, Recue 1 and the North Battalion Chief.
As they were enroute, firefighters spotted a column of smoke rising into the sky in that direction. Based on the visible smoke column and the numerous 911 calls being received, the “All Hands” signal for a working fire was transmitted before firefighters even arrived on scene. The balance of the first alarm – Engine 10, Ladder 4, Special Services 1, and the South Battalion – was dispatched at that time.
“Engine 1 to responding battalion, I got a three-story semi, heavy fire Divisions 1, 2 and 3,” the captain of the first-arriving engine company radioed as he and his crew pulled up to find flames showing from all three floors of the home on the left side of a three-story duplex.
Seconds later, Engine 1’s captain added, “We got a report of victims on the third floor.”
First-due companies mounted an aggressive interior attack. Evidence of the tremendous amount of fire that those first firefighters encountered as they stretched the first hoseline into the inferno was clear from the next radio transmission.
“Do we have a backup [hose]line yet? We have fire behind us. We’re trying to make the second floor,” the captain reported as he and his crew, at risk of their own safety, tried to push forward to knock down flames and allow other firefighters to get to the upper floors to search for the trapped residents.
At about 7:06 p.m. a second alarm was called, followed about four minutes later by a third alarm. Those upgrades sent all remaining on-duty city companies – Engines 3, 6 and 7 and Ladder 2 – racing to the scene to combat the fire, which had also spread to the right side of the duplex (834 Carteret Avenue).
Trenton EMS personnel on scene reportedly transported two victims, one of whom may have jumped out of a window to escape. Other victims were still reportedly trapped inside the blazing home.
Interior conditions quickly deteriorated and became so unsafe that firefighters were ordered out the structures for a time and defensive exterior operations had to be implemented. Interior operations eventually resumed after the heaviest fire was knocked down.
Shortly before 7:40 p.m. it was reported that a partial collapse of an interior ceiling had occurred and additional ambulances were requested for three injured firefighters. All were reportedly transported to local hospitals.
At about 7:45 p.m. two mutual aid engine companies from Ewing and Hamilton townships were requested to the scene for additional manpower to assist with operations.
Investigators from the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office were called to assist the Trenton fire and police departments with the investigation.
Carteret Avenue was the scene of another fire about four months ago, on Dec. 10, 2021, that went to two alarms and damaged a pair of attached homes in the 900 block.
Photos by: Brian McCarthy, OnScene News:
