HILLSBOROUGH: Flagtown firefighters commended for attacking Readington house fire, which claimed elderly woman

Hillsborough fire fighters, particularly from the Flagtown company, are among those commended for their role in fighting a fatal house fire on Higginsville Road in the Three Bridges section of Readington Township early on Saturday morning.
The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and the Readington Township Police Department are investigating the blaze, which was reported at 6:06 a.m.
“After battling back the flames, firefighters discovered the deceased body of an elderly female,” said Hunterdon Prosecutor Anthony Kearns.
Authorities didn’t release a name or age of the victim. It’s unclear if she was a resident of the home.
Mr. Kearns said firefighters and police arrived to find the home engulfed in flames. When rescue personnel entered the home to search for possible victims they were hampered by intense heat, flames and smoke, he said.
A firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and released.
This investigation remains active and any new information will be released at a later time, said a release from the prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutor Kearns said, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family during this tragic time.”
He commended “the dedication and commitment” of the volunteers from the Flagtown, Three Bridges, Readington Township, Raritan Township and Hillsborough fire departments, as well as the Whitehouse First Aid Squad in the response to the “dangerous fire.”
The Hunterdon County Arson Task Force is comprised of specially trained police officers, volunteer firefighters and prosecutor’s office detectives that works in conjunction with the State Police Arson/Bomb Squad and the NJ Fire Marshal K-9 Unit to investigate major fires in the county.