The volunteer fire companies of Malaga and Forest Grove from the Franklin Township Fire Department, along with the Borough of Newfield, all of Gloucester County, responded on July 31, 2016, to Colucci Lumber Company on Delsea Drive for a structure fire. An all-hands was declared en route, bringing Franklinville, Star Cross and Janvier to the scene. Malaga Captain Scott Krauss established command and reported heavy smoke showing with crews making an interior attack on the A/D side. A second alarm was struck bringing an engine and tower from the neighboring City of Vineland. A LDH was laid from a hydrant 1000 feet away by Vineland Engine 31 with an additional 900 feet laid from Vineland Tower 6 to Malaga Engine 43-41, totaling 2200 feet to Forest Grove Ladder 43-56. At the 40-minute mark a structure collapse occurred burying a Blitz Fire, but no firefighters were inside when the collapse occurred. Malaga Chief Anthony Baldesaro assumed command and requested a response from the Gloucester County North Water Tender Task Force, and additional water tenders from Atlantic and Salem Counties, plus two additional Gloucester County water tender strike teams. A separate operation had a LDH task force drop two four-inch lines from a draft sight of portable ponds that were set up.
– Fire News photo by Ken Badger
