HAMMONTON -- The town's longest-serving fire chief received a special honor July 27 when the town and fire department officially dedicated a new fire truck in his honor.

The 2009 Pierce Impel pumper truck was dedicated to Jack Donio, who served as fire chief from 1988 to 2002.

"I'll never forget this night. I love the town and I love the fire department," Donio, who received the chief emeritus rank when he retired, during the ceremony outside Town Hall....Continue Reading

Posted: Thursday, July 30, 2009 | 0 comments

Posted in Atlantic on Thursday, July 30, 2009 3:05 am Updated: 4:00 am.

Mullica Township- A family was left homeless Wednesday morning when a fire destroyed their Moores Avenue home.

Fire companies responded to a call about a structure fire at about 10 a.m., at a two-story home in the 3600 block of Moores Avenue.

The Nesco Volunteer Fire Company, with assistance from the Elwood Fire Company, had the fire contained in less than an hour. However, the blaze destroyed the home and seared a gaping hole in its roof.

Family members said no one was home at the time of the fire, and there were no reported injuries.

The Mullica Township Police Department is investigating the cause of the fire.

Compiled by staff writers Elaine Rose, Lynda Cohen and Rob Spahr.

Posted in Atlantic on Thursday, July 30, 2009 12:00 am Updated: 4:00 am.

Posted: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | 3 comments

Posted in Breaking, Atlantic on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 8:15 am Updated: 8:15 am.

By LEE PROCIDA, Staff Writer, 609-457-8707 | Posted: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | 0 comments

FLORENCE, Ky. --  Fire crews spent much of Sunday afternoon examining a home heavily damaged by a gas explosion.

Firefighters said they were called about 3:25 p.m., when an explosion reported at the vacant home near the intersection of Dixie Highway and Main Street.

Commanders said the leak was blowing into a nearby doctor's office when firefighters arrived, and both buildings sustained serious damage.

"The first suspicion is going to be natural gas. There's a natural gas leak somewhere in the building. What caused the leak, why the building exploded -- at this time those are the things we need to investigate," said Florence Fire Chief Marc Mumech.

Several companies were called to the scene, but medics said no one was injured.

The wreckage of the home came to rest several feet away from its foundation, and firefighters said the home was blown about 20 feet into the air.

Two boys who were in a nearby skate park said they were nearly struck by the wreckage.

"We were right in front of that house and it blew up. The house lifted up, flames went up, debris flying everywhere, glass and wood hitting my car. It was basically like a tornado," said John Bailey.

People as far as two miles away reported hearing and feeling the explosion.

"It kind of looked fake. It was better than a movie -- our car went off the ground and it was pretty sweet, but crazy at the same time," said witness Gage Schultz.

Dixie Highway remained closed well into the evening.

The vacant home and the home next to it are owned by St. Paul's Church, which had windows blown out. Firefighters said a surveillance camera caught the blast on video.

Mumech said the department had never been called to an explosion that large.

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