Van Fire Sends Column of Smoke Over Mercer Mall

Flames destroyed a van parked in front of the Joe Canal’s liquor store at Mercer Mall in the 3300 block of Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) Monday afternoon, May 9.

The fire sent up a large column of smoke over the shopping center and caused a few tense moments due to the fact that the burning vehicle was close to the building, but township firefighters extinguished the flames before they could spread to the liquor store.

Lt. Charles Edgar, a spokesman for the township police department, said the 1989 Ford Econoline van was owned by Walter Garrison, 84, of Doylestown, Pa. Garrison was not injured, he said.

The blaze, reported at 3:53 p.m., was fought by the career firefighters of Lawrence Township’s daytime duty crew and volunteer firefighters from Lawrenceville Fire Co.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation by township fire officials.