June 10, 2024
EAST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–An as-yet unknown number of people were left homeless by a three-alarm blaze that burned the roof off two-thirds of a 24-unit condominium building Monday afternoon (June 10, 2024) in the Twin Rivers section of town.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated as additional information becomes available.
The blaze in Building K of the American Way condominiums on Avon Drive, off Probasco Road, was reported about 4:30 p.m. Heavy smoke was showing from the two-story building when the first police and firefighters arrived. A short time later, flames were reported to be burning through the roof. Three alarms were transmitted to bring enough fire apparatus and manpower to the scene to fight the fire. Numerous hoselines and three aerial master streams were put in service to flow water on the flames.
Assisting East Windsor firefighters with battling the blaze were fire companies from Robbinsville, Allentown-Upper Freehold Hope Fire Company, Plainsboro, Monroe, Hightstown, West Windsor, Hamilton, Lawrence, Ewing, North Brunswick, Millstone, Manalapan, Cranbury, and Howell.
By the time the blaze was brought under control several hours later, the roof of the parts of the building containing units 9 through 24 had been burned away. Extensive damage was visible to most second second-floor units in those areas, while water and smoke damage was probable in the first-floor units there. It appeared that firefighters had been mostly successful in preventing significant damage to units 1 through 8.
Several firefighters reportedly suffered minor injuries and were being treated on scene by emergency medical personnel from Hightstown, Capital Health System, Princeton, and elsewhere. Signal 22, the volunteer fire and police canteen unit from Trenton, was on scene providing firefighters with refreshments.
The Red Cross was requested to the scene to help shelter displaced residents. The cause of the blaze is under investigation by township police and fire officials and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
The blaze sent up a large column of smoke that was visible on the other side of the county, while hundreds of local residents watched the firefighting effort up close from behind police line tape.
Updated story at link below:
47 Left Homeless from East Windsor 3-Alarm Blaze, Investigation Continues
Several families left homless after this 3-Alarm fire on Avon Drive in East Windsor, New Jersey
Above photos: Dennis Symons, MidJersey.news
Above photos by: Michael Ratcliffe, MidJersey.news