By Lucas K. Murray
The Gloucester County Times
WASHINGTON TWP., N.J. — It was a busy, snowy few days for firefighters here as fire personnel answered 37 calls for emergency service during a 52-hour period. Weekend fire crews started manning stations at 8 a.m. on Saturday, just after snow began to accumulate on area roads.
Among the calls for service were several motor vehicle accidents, assists to paramedic crews, a car fire as well as two dwelling fires.
One of them occurred in the 500 block of Egg Harbor Road just before 4 p.m. Saturday. There, an electrical fire was touched off which caused limited damage.
Fire Chief John Hoffman said that despite impassable road conditions, trucks arrived on the scene within seven minutes of being dispatched.
Luckily the fire was able to be extinguished quickly. The residents there were allowed back in the home the next day.
All six fire stations in the township were staffed with a total of 36 career and volunteer firefighters during the weekend. Hoffman said they were manned to ensure rapid responses associated with the snowfall.
The chief suggested residents across the county clear snow from each exit to their homes so that safe egress can be made in the event of an emergency.
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