
Upon our arrival, met with agency representatives at the command post who advised of an explosion with an unknown cause that has severely compromised a duplex residence, as well as an adjacent structure. Upon a hazard survey being completed by the Warren County Hazardous Materials Team, a crew of 3 from CFARS assembled with Gas Meters, Pike Poles, and a Specialized Search Camera, and began a search and reconnaissance mission in the affected structures. At the same time, a similar team from the Flemington-Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad, also responding with the Task Force, began a similar search in the adjacent areas to the Clinton crew. Luckily, our searches returned negative results and all rescue crews cleared within approximately 90 minutes from the beginning of the first search without injury.
During this incident, the Rehab Unit provided a cooling station with medical care and refreshment to the Rescuers, Firefighters, and bystanders involved in this incident, and remained on scene for about an hour following the completion of the search.
While these incidents have a low frequency of occurrence, they are very high-risk incidents that we do train for throughout the year. CFARS is proud to offer this service as one of our many technical rescue disciplines, and is just as proud of the members who take the extensive training to perform them.
Photos courtesy of: Dan Clerico (Northeast Bravest), Phillipsburg Emergency Squad & CFARS members.