DPW Worker Uses Garden Hose To Stop Fire From Spreading To Raritan Home

RARITAN, NJ — Raritan Borough Public Works employee Timothy Hardgrove is being commended for his quick action in stopping a fire on Wednesday.

At 2:48 p.m., Raritan Police Officers were called to a home on Anderson Street for patio furniture that had caught fire and was less than five feet from the home, said Raritan Police Lt. Everett M. Holt.

Hardgrove happened to be in the area and noticed black smoke billowing from the home's backyard. Hardgrove quickly used a garden hose and extinguished the fire before officers arrived, said Holt.

The fire caused damage to the patio, its furniture, and a screen window on the home.

"Hardgrove's quick action averted a near tragedy as there were occupants in the residence that were unaware of the fire," said Holt.

Members of the Raritan and Somerville Fire Departments also came to help with the fire.

The cause of the fire was possibly due to a cigarette, said Holt.

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