August 24, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (Mercer County) – City firefighters responded to a two-alarm blaze involving three rowhouses in the Chambersburg neighborhood Saturday morning (Aug. 24, 2024).
The blaze, which was reported about 10:25 a.m., appeared to have originated in the vacant, boarded-up home at 259 Elmer Street and spread to the homes on either side (257 and 261 Elmer Street). Engines 3, 7 and 10, Ladder 2 and Rescue 1 were initially dispatched, but then Engine 1, Ladder 4 and Special Services 1 were added as the balance of the full first alarm after first-due companies reported a column of smoke visible in the morning sky as they responded in.
Multiple hoselines were put in services to attack the fire. Firefighters had not been on scene for long when they received a report from a bystander that a family might be trapped inside one of the homes. That prompted the incident commander, Battalion Chief John Soganic, to transmit a second alarm for additional manpower to help with searches. Engine 6 and Ladder 1 were dispatched on that second alarm.
Fortunately, no victims were located after primary and secondary searches of all three structures were completed. The blaze was officially declared under control at 11:09 a.m. The cause of the fire – which was so intense that it reportedly burned holes through the floor on both the first and second floors of 259 Elmer Street – is currently under investigation by fire marshals and law enforcement officials.
Trenton EMS, Capital Health paramedics, the Signal 22 canteen unit and city police were among the other emergency personnel on the scene.
August 24, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Trenton, N.J. – Yesterday August 23, 2024, Mayor Reed Gusciora, was joined by Department of Recreation Director Paul Harris, Business Administrator Maria Richardson, City Council President Crystal Feliciano, City Council Vice President and South Ward Councilwoman Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg, and Community Affairs Director Andrew Bobbitt at the grand opening of Trenton’s Marine Terminal Playground at 1501 Lamberton Rd.
This grand opening marks a significant milestone in the City’s ongoing efforts to enhance recreational facilities and provide quality outdoor spaces for Trentonians and visitors.
“We are excited to officially announce the grand opening of Marine Terminal Playground. I want to thank our Recreation Director Paul Harris and our City Council for working together and recognizing the need for more playground equipment to keep our children active and outdoors. We look forward to seeing the community come together and enjoy all this park has to offer,” Mayor Gusciora said.
“I believe in visualization and as I ride through the City and I see all of the many different improvements that are taking place, it makes me proud to serve on this Council with my colleagues and to serve this administration to make sure Trenton get its fair share,” City Council President Feliciano said.”
“I am pleased to be here because we are reporting on positivity in Trenton,” City Council Vice President Figueroa Kettenburg said. “We are getting things done, things are moving in the right direction, and today to be improving things for our youth and our kids, it’s a wonderful day.”
The Marine Terminal Playground project was made possible through the acquisition of a $146,000.00 grant from the DCA Local Recreational Improvement Grant, awarded over two years. These funds, combined with an additional $70,000 provided by the City of Trenton, were utilized to construct the playground, develop and install historic interpretive signage, and upgrade park amenities including benches, picnic tables, grills, and the restroom facility.
Additionally, Parks & Recreation will continue the restoration of the park by dedicating supplementary funds for a new bathroom roof, doors, a complete interior renovation, a four foot fence surrounding the park, new planks, and an asphalt path.
