Raritan Public Works Employee Recognized After Noticing Fire at Anderson Street Home

RARITAN, NJ - Raritan Public Works employee Timothy Hardgrove has been recognized for quick thinking in averting a tragedy when he noticed a fire in the backyard of a home on Anderson Street Wednesday.

According to Raritan Borough Police Lt. Everett Holt, at 2:48 p.m., Raritan police were dispatched to a house on Anderson Street for a fire. He said officers were told that patio furniture had caught fire and the fire was less than 5 feet from the house.

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“Hardgrove happened to be in the area and noticed black smoke billowing from the backyard of the residence,” Holt said. “Hardgrove quickly utilized a garden hose and extinguished the fire before officers arrived.”

Holt said the fire caused damage to the patio, its furniture and a screen window on the residence. He said members of the Raritan and Somerville fire departments responded to the scene, and the cause of the fire was possibly due to a cigarette.

“But Hardgrove's quick action averted a near tragedy, as there were occupants in the residence that were unaware of the fire,” he said.

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