Crews quickly extinguish third-floor apartment fire in Hunterdon County; 1 person treated for smoke inhalation

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — Firefighters in Lambertville quickly knocked down and extinguished a third-floor apartment fire in a four-story brick building on Wednesday after an activated alarm was upgraded to a working fire, the Lambertville Fire Department said.

The department said crews were dispatched at 3:19 a.m. to a fire box for an activated alarm system. The call was upgraded while units were en route to an apartment fire on the third floor.

Crews confirmed the fire on arrival. Firefighters began knocking down flames with a water can while the driver connected to the building’s fire department connection and brought a high-rise pack to the fire floor. The fire was knocked down and fully extinguished within minutes of dispatch, officials said.

All occupants were evacuated to the first floor as additional mutual aid units arrived, officials said. One person was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, the department said.

A fire marshal investigated the fire, but the cause was not immediately released.

The department credited the rapid knockdown to the presence of a staffed firehouse, saying the quick response helped limit damage and allowed residents to return to their apartments.