NORTH BRUNSWICK — Township fire marshals are investigating a brush fire that started behind the Johnson & Johnson property, Route 1, on Tuesday.
The fire started around 3:30 p.m. and was under control by 10 p.m., according to Fire Chief Gregg Prott. He said a pile of railroad ties that were stacked on the side of the tracks were ignited. The ties were recently replaced by concrete but left on the property, which is said to be owned by either Amtrak or Conrail.
Prott said the fire was not bad, but was tough to get to within the wooded area. Without nearby hydrants, the fire companies had to develop a water shuttle with brush trucks and dig a 5-inch line under the railroad tracks.
There were no injuries reported and trains were still running on the Northeast Corridor Line. However, speeds were reduced to 5 mph, causing delays for commuters, according to Prott.
The fire was tended by all three township volunteer fire companies, as well as mutual aid from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Milltown, Franklin, Brookview East Brunswick and East Brunswick Independent firefighters.
