High Winds Fan Flames In Dayton House Fire Monday

DAYTON, NJ — It took as many as 60 volunteer firefighters to help bring down a fire at a 100-year-old house Monday evening in the Dayton section of South Brunswick, said police.

The fire broke out just past 7:30 p.m. at a home on the 300 block of Georges Road in the Dayton section. Police officers got there first and confirmed all the home's occupants had safely gotten out.

Monmouth Junction Fire Chief Scott Smith was in command and requested a second alarm due to how big the fire was. Sixty firefighters from Monmouth Junction, Kendall Park, Kingston, Jamesburg, Plainsboro and North Brunswick responded. Firefighters from Franklin Park, Brookview, Griggstown and Montgomery covered South Brunswick fire stations while the situation was ongoing.

The fire was brought under control in less than 20 minutes, but required extensive overhaul to check for remaining hot spots. Ambulances from the Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad, South Brunswick EMS and Plainsboro responded; there were no injuries.

“Firefighters were confronted with heavy fire pushing out from the front of the home on arrival. The flames were being fanned by strong winds," said Chief Smith. "They did a tremendous job of making a fast attack to bring it under control."

"The house is at least a hundred years old, if not older, so it took a lot of time for firefighters to check for hidden hot spots to ensure the fire would not rekindle after we left," he added.

The home suffered extensive damaged and is uninhabitable. The family is staying with relatives in the area.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation by the South Brunswick Township Fire Safety Bureau.