KINGWOOD TOWNSHIP, NJ (Hunterdon County) – A passerby who saw flames coming from a home in Hunterdon County was able to alert the resident in time for him to safely escape the burning home.
The fire broke out at Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10:20 p.m. at a residence on Route 12 between Route 519 and the Frenchtown Line in Kingwood Township, according to a post on the Kingwood Township Volunteer Fire Company’s Facebook page.
The fire chief arrived on scene to a single-story residence with fire showing from a corner of the home and all residents were evacuated, authorities said.
Crews found the conditions difficult to maneuver inside the house and getting to the origin of the fire, authorities said.
Due to a potentially hazardous condition in the basement, the Hunterdon County Hazmat team was called to the scene. The hazmat team assessed the situation without further immediate action being required, the post said.
Kingwood First Aid and Rescue Squad provided rehab for all the firefighters after ensuring the homeowner was ok, the post said.
All units were clear of the scene at 12:30 a.m. The fire chief stayed with the homeowner and New Jersey State Police to ensure he had shelter and assistance, authorities said.
“A big thank you to the passerby that saw the flames, alerted the homeowner and made sure he got out of the house. Your quick action minimized the damage to property and likely saved a life,” the post said.
“The actions by everyone working together quickly provided the best outcome possible for this resident,” authorities said.
