Crime & Safety

Car Fire Heats Up Route 287 in Basking Ridge

Firefighters and volunteer EMS responders rush to car fire south of Basking Ridge/Bernardsville exit.

The Basking Ridge Fire Company and EMS battled a car fire on Route 287 northbound just south of exit 30 on Sunday afternoon, in an effort compounded by high heat and humidity. 

The volunteers were called shortly before 1 p.m. to the fire, which was extinguished quickly with no injuries reported, according to the Basking Ridge Fire Company.

The passengers of the car had exited the vehicle immediately after pulling off the roadway at milepost 28.3, said a release from the fire company.

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Basking Ridge Fire and EMS units were dispatched at 12:48 p.m., and engine 20-103 was first to respond. Firefighters found the vehicle on the shoulder with a fire engulfing the engine compartment, the release said.

Traffic was halted and then moved slowly along the left side of the highway, as black plumes of smoke rose above the highway.

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With temperatures reaching 90 degrees, EMS unit 20-173 also responded, with Lt. Brian Curtis in charge of establishing backup for firefighters. 

Fire Capt. Brian Grace also took command and immediately called engine 20-105 to provide further assistance and water supply. Capt. Peter von der Linde was assigned as operations officer and Capt. Ted Renz was water supply officer.

The emergency responders were able to leave the scene at about 1:30 p.m., according to the fire company.


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