For twenty-five years, Captain Beth Hale has been responding to dispatch fire emergencies. She had never really called in a fire and shown up on the site simultaneously until Monday.
I must start by telling you how wonderful that Beth is. She’s been with me since…Let’s just say that when we first met, she wasn’t a firefighter. She is succeeding as a Captain with the Princeton Fire Department and has progressed through the ranks of a largely male-dominated profession.
130-Year-Old Church Destroyed by Fire
A bystander alerted Captain Hale to smoke emanating from the church located at 225 West Emerson Street as she was helping with a medical run. The Princeton Church is housed in this ancient structure, which is only a few blocks from Downtown.
The building was cleared by Princeton Police, and no one was found inside. However, the fire spread swiftly, and 47 firefighters from at least 7 different fire agencies worked together to safeguard nearby structures.
Firefighters Battle Flames and Cold Conditions
This live footage from the fire was given by my friend Penny Goddard. The heat of that conflagration is beyond my comprehension. This fire was a very dangerous situation because of the wind and the unusually cold temperatures. Fortunately, the cold only caused a few minor injuries.
Community Steps Up
For seven hours, the firemen battled this massive fire in the bitter cold. Additionally, some of them returned to the area on Tuesday morning after spending the night in hotspots. Now that their church has completely collapsed, I’m thrilled to learn about all the neighborhood eateries and groups that have come up to offer food, shelter from the cold, and places for the parishioners to worship.
With gratitude to:
