Milling Machine Strikes Gas Line, Starts Fire In Princeton

Firefighters are still fighting a fire involving a road construction truck on Cuyler Road in Princeton that struck a gas line on Wednesday morning.

PSE&G faces a Catch-22 situation in turning off the gas line fueling the fire of a milling machine. “They can’t take steps to do that with the milling machine in place, and they can’t move the milling machine because it’s still on fire,” Sgt. Mike Cifelli told the Times Of Trenton.

6-8 homes will remain evacuated until the fire is out according to Cifell.

Traffic is being detoured around the area as Ewing Street is closed between Tehrune and Harrison Streets and Terhune Road is shut  between N. Harrison St. and Walnut lane. Closurea and detours could remain in place for several days.Terhune Rd. between N. Harrison St. and Walnut lane

This morning witnesses say a brand new milling machine became fully engulfed in flames at Ewing Street in the middle of the street after striking a gas line. Residents tell Planet Princeton they heard a large boom and their homes shook.

Princeton Police say the fire was fed by a natural gas line struck by the milling machine and caused lots of black smoke. The fire seemed to finally die down around noon according to WTXF TV. Firefighters applied foam to the fire when it seemed to flare up again.

1,000 gallons of diesel fuel from the machine also spilled onto the road according to the Patch of Princeton.

Fire crews from Princeton were being aided by West Windsor Emergency Services, Monroe Township Emergency Services, Mercer Airport Emergency Services, Plainsboro Fire, Rusling Hose (Hamilton) Fire, Trenton Engine #1, and the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad as well as the Trenton hazardous material team.

The gas main break could cause some brief service interruptions to nearby residents & businesses.

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