Crews from the Lawrenceville (Station 23) and Slackwood (Station 21) fire companies were called out to extinguish a fire that gutted a compact SUV in Lawrence Township, Mercer County. The blaze was reported at 1720, not long before a severe thunderstorm swept through the area. Firefighters arrived to find the vehicle engulfed in flames at the bottom of the ramp leading from Interstate 295 south onto Brunswick Pike (Route 1) south. The crew from Lawrenceville’s Rescue 23 attacked the fire using a 1-3/4-inch line. At one point, showers of sparks erupted as water from the hoseline hit magnesium components burning inside the vehicle. Slackwood firefighters supplied tank water from Rescue 21 to help complete extinguishment.

– Fire News photos & story by Michael Ratcliffe