Crime & Safety

Pool Company Truck Catches Fire in Driveway of Rumson Home

Box truck a total loss, Sailors Way home sustains some minor damage.

A home on Sailors Way in Rumson has minor damages after a box truck full of pool chemicals caught fire in the driveway on Friday afternoon.

The Rumson Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the home at approximately 2:40 p.m. on June 10 and the first arriving units “found a heavily involved box truck in the driveway threatening the 2.5 story home valued at over $3.0 million,” said Fire Chief Kevin McCarthy.

Members of the Oceanic Hook & Ladder and Rumson Fire Company were first on the scene. They immediately attempted to put out the fire with foam. Mutual Aid was requested from Sea Bright Fire Department. 

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The residents evacuated the home when the fire companies arrived on the scene.

“The unit encountered heavy fumes and discovered the box truck belonged to a pool cleaning service and was loaded with various chemicals including chlorine, which were reacting with each other,” said McCarthy. “Steps were taken at that point to limit Hazmat danger and protect the surrounding residents.”

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Oceanport Fire Department was then dispatched to help with extinguishing magnesium components in the box truck. “Monmouth County Hazmat, Monmouth County Fire Marshals and Middletown Fire Department Special Services was also requested to assist in mitigating the hazmat,” said McCarthy.

The fire was stabilized by 4:00 p.m., “but chemicals continued to react and vent in the box truck,” explained McCarthy.

Fair Haven Fire Dept was dispatched to cover Rumson while their companies focused on the incident. The Rumson Police Department and Fair Haven Fire Police assisted in traffic control and evacuation of several homes threatened by chlorine fumes. The Rumson EMS was also on scene providing rehabilitation to the firefighters.

According to McCarthy, a state contracted and approved Hazmat Response and Clean-up Company, Atlantic Response of East Brunswick, arrived on scene at approximately 8:30pm. “Assisted by Monmouth County Hazmat and Rumson Fire Dept. the crew neutralized the chemicals and cleaned up the scene,” he said. The remaining crew and volunteers did not finish clearing the scene until 3:00 a.m. on Saturday Morning.

 “The box truck was a total lost. The home suffered minor damage from heat exposure,” said McCarthy. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by Monmouth County Fire Marshalls.


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