Scotch Plains Firefighters Leave Drill To Battle Real House Fire

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — While conducting a training drill in the township, Scotch Plains firefighters got a call for an actual house fire with people trapped inside a few streets away on Monday night.

The firefighters were training at the vacant Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish on Martine Avenue when the call came in at 8:58 p.m. reporting the fully involved house fire at 1521 Rahway Road, Scotch Plains Deputy Fire Chief Skip Paal said.

When firefighters arrived three minutes later, the family had already escaped and the fire was located in the basement and first floor.

"Crews went in and quickly extinguished the fire and were able to save the majority of the house," Paal said.

There was fire and smoke damage to the basement and first floor of the home. The family was unable to go back inside the home on Monday night.

One Scotch Plains firefighter suffered a minor injury. He was treated on scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, however at this time it does not seem suspicious, Paal said.

Fanwood and Westfield fire departments, and Scotch Plains and Fanwood rescue squads responded.

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