Summerfield Condo Development Fire in South Brunswick Saturday Night

South Brunswick, NJ - A police officer who first arrived on the scene of a fire Saturday night in the Summerfield condo development tried to put out the blaze, but was unable to and had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire broke out in a condo at 701 Dahlia Circle, South Brunswick police confirmed to Patch. The fire broke out at 8:08 p.m. Saturday. Police officers arrived first to find a working fire in the laundry room, located on the second floor. The home had been evacuated, and police officers tried to extinguish the fire, but were unable to due to the amount of smoke and fire. One South Brunswick police officer, Patrolman Joe Rausch, was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control, containing the fire to the second-floor laundry room. The home suffered minor smoke damage and the residents were unable to stay in the home overnight.

None of the other units in the condominium building were affected by the fire. In addition to the Monmouth Junction Fire Department, firefighters from Kendall Park and Kingston also responded, as well as the Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad and Monroe Township EMS. The scene was cleared by about 10:30 p.m. The fire is under investigation by Deputy Fire Official John Funcheon of the South Brunswick Township Fire Safety Bureau.

Photos of the fire provided by the South Brunswick police on Twitter.