Princeton Packet
27 January 1977
Timely Error
Editor, The Packet:
On the front page of the Jan. 26 issue you stated that the first fire trucks did not arrive at the Benson Building until 14 minutes after the general alarm sounded. As on the of initial firemen on the scene I cannot let an error of this magnitude go unchecked.
At 4:08 a.m. Jan 21 the Princeton Borough Police activated the plectrons, our portable radios. At 4:10 a.m. the general alarm sounded. At 4:12 a.m., two minutes from the general alarm and four minutes from the original alarm, three trucks arrived at the scene. They were Engine 71, from Engine Co. 1; Engine 72, from Mercer Engine Co. 3; and Ladder 74, from Hook and Ladder.
I would like to thank you for your otherwise accurate and excellent coverage.
Mark Freda
Fireman
Princeton Hook and Ladder
Admirable Job
Editor, The Packet:
I would like to thank the firemen who so admirably fought the Benson Building blaze on Jan. 21. Their skill, perseverance and courage helped prevent a bad situation from becoming much worse.
I want to thank all of our customers for their patronage and loyalty and also want to thank our friends and fellow business people for all their concerns and offers to help.
We hope to be open very soon after completion of minor repairs and restocking of new and clean merchandise.
Irv Urken
Urken Supply Co. Inc.
Firefighters earn praise
The only bright spot in downtown Princeton’s fiery, frozen Friday last week was the spirit and effectiveness of the small army of firefighters. These volunteers rolled out of bed and into action in frigid, predawn blackness. They contained the most serious fire Princeton has seen in a generation and demonstrated that inter-community teamwork by fire companies is alive and well.
The firemen and firewomen who crunched through he ice and embers on that black Friday morning in downtown Princeton deserve immense praise. They earned it.
Picture Caption:
THE FIRST fire trucks began arriving at the scene 14 minutes after the general alarm sounded. Borough police began calling the tenants of the Benson Building at 4:15 a.m. to retrieve records. Firemen were called to the scene as late as 2:15 yesterday morning to put out flames that occasionally shot out of the crumbling building. See two full pages on the fire, pages 2 and 3.
(Stuart Crump photo)