Flagtown Firefighters Assisted at Dump Truck Fire in Hillsborough Industrial Park

Hillsborough, N.J. — November 4 — On Wednesday afternoon, the Flagtown Fire/Rescue unit, comprising the Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company No.1, was dispatched to address a fire involving a dump truck at an industrial park situated on Roycefield Road, an incident in which the combustion of fuel subsequently breached into adjacent storm drains.

At approximately 12:27 p.m., a response was initiated involving Stations 37, 36, and 10, alongside Somerset County HAZMAT resources, which were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, Chief 10 assessed the situation to discover that a dump truck was significantly compromised adjacent to a structure, with fuel actively igniting and draining into the storm system. Consequently, Station 38 was deployed to augment the ongoing response efforts.

Engine 10, Mini Pumper 10, and the first-arriving officers rapidly suppressed the primary blaze by deploying two handlines and multiple 20-pound dry chemical extinguishers, while supplementary crews joined the effort to conduct overhaul operations.

Subsequently, firefighters confronted a subsurface blaze fueled by plastic storm drain piping, which persisted for over an hour.

Although crews deployed cellar and piercing nozzles mounted on Engine 36 in an effort to access the inferno, they were unable to channel a sufficient volume of water into the conduit.Ultimately, a portable monitor was strategically positioned within the storm drain to direct a targeted stream into the pipe, successfully suppressing the residual flames.

While the adjacent structure incurred only minor thermal damage, the substantial fuel spill was managed by Somerset County HAZMAT. Flagtown's operational response was executed by Engine 36 and Chief 36.