Structure Fire In Trenton ,Trenton, NJ 10/22/08

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Trenton (MERCER)--Firefighters in the state capital found themselves faced with heavy fire conditions and significant exposure problems during a structure fire on Wednesday, October 22, 2008. It was 9:24 p.m. when the Trenton Fire Department dispatched Engines 3, 7 and 10, Ladder 2, Rescue 1 and Battalion Chief Todd Fell. While still en route, Fell special-called two extra companies (Engine 1 and Ladder 4) due to multiple 911 calls reporting a working fire with possible entrapment. Crews arrived to find 34 Dresden Avenue (the left half of a 2-1/2-story duplex) heavily-involved in fire. The 71-year-old homeowner - who, according to police, accidentally started the fire by smoking while using home oxygen - managed to crawl onto the front porch on his own. Several neighbors then carried him to safety prior to the arrival of firefighters. Suffering from burns to his face and airway, the man was rushed to a local hospital and then transferred to a burn unit in Philadelphia. It took firefighters about an hour to control the blaze. Ultimately, the originally fire building was destroyed and the Side D exposure (36 Dresden Avenue, the right half of the duplex) sustained significant damage. The Side B exposure (32 Dresden Avenue, separated by a narrow alley) was saved, except for some minor heat damage to its exterior.