Massive Fire rips through vacant High School

Firefighters from Trenton responded to a blaze at a vacant high school located at Martin Luther King Blvd and Southard Street after residents reported seeing flames around 2 p.m. The fire was so intense that nearby homes, including one on Evans Ave, caught fire, causing minor damage. The fire grew to 5 alarms, requiring assistance from firefighters in Burlington County and throughout Mercer County. Unfortunately, one firefighter was injured and transported to Robert Wood Hospital. The fire was finally placed under control around 5:00 PM, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

[@yogib37]

wow that must have been a tough fire to battle. Love the drone shots. it gives a greater overview of the situation.

[@owensweetland342]

Hmmm. Vacant building yet it burns. So, how valuable is the property? Condos going up? Houses? A new plaza?

[@_educatedgenius]

Good memories in that school..

[@LoneLee2022]

Word! I feel you!

[@yogib37]

what this a HIGH SCHOOL or Jr. High. Pretty big scchool.

[@heathertownsend949]

It breaks my heart!!!!! I LOVE ALL these old buildings and that could have been done like a few we have here in Jackson, MISSISSIPPI and repurposed even if to help kids, veterans, there is all kinds of grants available just few try to obtain. ANYWAYS LOOKS ALMOST like a much bigger version of my old high school which we were able to save until Walmart bought the land all around it and the “National Historic Paperwork” mysteriously disappeared IN THE 2000’s hmmmmmmmmm whose pocket did that go to to happen or who got a better job offer????? Sorry I’m just tired or ALL our CITIZENS HURTING ALL OVER WHILE THEY LIVE SO CUSHY!!! And it’s every last 1of them. Congress needs term limits but I know they should wouldn’t agree BUT I PROMISE WE ARE MORE POWERFUL!!!!!!!!! I’ve seen it in other areas even if only 10 come together and lock arms and REALLY FIGHT

[@williamschlenger1518]

Imagine the history of that building.😔

[@tomp8871]

I know

[@DanTheRoofer]

I guess, we will have a nice new school or nice new House on the property now.

[@redips]

might as well be new school, no way a new house or apartment will ever be built around that area.

[@TheTruthDragonNJ09]

There won't be a new school there because city council does absolutely NOTHING that really benefits the communities that need rehabbing. If it's not in a designated part of the city, good luck. They _still_ haven't started the Amtrak bridge replacement they said was going to start in early spring!

[@yogib37]

@@ga-tli-danayehi if someone claims for insurance and it is ruled fire by arson, I bet the claim will be denied.

[@Greylocks]

Not much can be done when it's that heavy fire. In a vacant building you can only control the spreading to other structures unless you can teleport a lake into the fire.

[@boatbound3300]

Trenton was such a nice city up until the late 50's

[@LoneLee2022]

It was OK in the early 60's but started changing soon after that. It was like NYC at night.

[@owensweetland342]

As were so many Northeast cities.

[@edburton6472]

Nice job. I, too especially liked the drone work.

[@jimbrewer2893]

Showed this to my wife. She grew up in that area. Groveville, to be exact. Her uncle was a member of Mercerville VFD many years ago.

[@LoneLee2022]

Where exactly is Groveville? Near Yardville? Near Robbinsville? Near Crosswicks? Near Chesterfield?

[@BenjaminEsposti]

@@LoneLee2022 Groveville is kinda on the other side, it's a part of Hamilton Township. Mercerville VFD - nice! I've got family members who worked at Enterprise VFD, and Hamilton.

[@psdesert7907]

This fire was in the city. A good distance from Groveville. Groveville is next to Yardville in Hamilton

[@wolfgang548]

A vacant building goes on fire. If it wasn't a lightning strike it was probably mice with matches.

[@BenjaminEsposti]

I was at work and thought someone had a fire going nearby, didn't realize it was this until I left and saw smoke drifting in the area. Could smell it in my shirt, it was that strong. The FFs can only stand back and throw water on it, especially with such an abandoned, deteriorating building. Always a shame to see these old structures go, one time someone put their life into building and maintaining these. Just like the old Goodall rubber facility in Hamilton, that burnt down a few days after this (it was a stone-walled factory from the mid 1800's). No word yet if the incidents are related.

[@saraswatioshun765]

You know what tho it could be a developer who wanted the land an the city may of had other plans...but still check for bodies

[@HugsBach]

Beautiful old school. Sad to see it burnt.

[@IamP3ngu1n]

Jr. High School # 1. Grades 6th through 9th. School colors: brown and yellow. School mascot : An Owl. Once the building is demolished; there's gonna be a nice size hole in the ground.

[@TheTruthDragonNJ09]

There won't be a hole since it'll get filled in. There just won't be anything else there but grass and trees. They were supposed to restore the building after they tore down Jefferson to build the new school that was only supposed to be a temporary home for the middle schoolers. Those plans changed and they left Jr. 1 to rot...

[@LoneLee2022]

Word!

[@IamP3ngu1n]

@JayTubeYT Yeah, now that I think about it. If I remember correctly, the overall design was kinda like a sideways "H". Where the "Bar" in the middle of the "H" connected the two buildings together. Sad ending for this building ...if memory serves me...this was one of the 1st if not the 1st Junior High School in America.

[@LoneLee2022]

@JayTubeYT A Big Hole

[@JayTubeYT_The_3rd]

JayTubeYT is gone.

[@stephensaltau6481]

Good drone footage.

[@sherox414]

Someone is trying to get rid of some sort of evidence!

[@TheTruthDragonNJ09]

No, there was nothing found. Just somebody wanting to watch things burn and destroy people's memories of the place. This school has been featured in a number of "abandoned property adventures" like this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j52mZZ-fjKuEY8U&lc=UgwlYlqNp01Obx6b5rZ4AaABAg.9ZpLAJ8I3vL9pkLrv8Xff_ and somebody just wanted to watch it all burn.

[@0.8.0.]

It. Was during school hours and there is a school so probably some kids

[@LoneLee2022]

Had to be set. You feel me?

[@jimmccabe801]

how do you know?

[@sherox414]

@@jimmccabe801 my thoughts, we’re talking about an abandoned school…just seems to me that’s a capability, an all the murder an mayhem goings on….you must live in heaven already for you to respond to my opinion with that question🤔

[@davidcarroll8735]

Sad to see, but didn’t see it covered by any other nj new services.

[@mefrfiter]

Should have laid in. Bet they passed the hydrant on the way.

[@rapman5791]

I said the same thing. They were making more work for themselves.

[@owensweetland342]

Long hand stretch. Then again it's a vacant so why rush.

[@K7008B]

Why rush? Stupid comment.

[@SpprtAssoc]

Why lay in when we can hand jack it all the way back to the hydrant?!

[@saraswatioshun765]

They need to check for bodies

[@TheTruthDragonNJ09]

No bodies were found. Just a case of vandalism (mainly arson). This school has been featured in a number of "abandoned property adventures" like this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j52mZZ-fjKuEY8U&lc=UgwlYlqNp01Obx6b5rZ4AaABAg.9ZpLAJ8I3vL9pkLrv8Xff_ and somebody just wanted to watch it all burn.

[@Fronkk]

there were no injuries or deaths at the scene so

[@davidglaum2538]

With the way the building burned its a good thing that on students were in the school

[@anthonymirande4030]

Ok here's a hint rnging company next time try stretching in instead of back stretching lol

[@LoneLee2022]

Do you speak English or did you go to Trenton Pubic Schools? Not Public, Pubic.

[@owensweetland342]

Too much fire too soon. Top floor no less.

[@LoneLee2022]

Is Princeton AVE. MLK Blvd or is Brunswick AVE MLK Blvd? I used to live in the Donnely homes but that was before crack.

[@BREAKINGNEWSOFTRENTON]

Mlk turns into Princeton Ave going towards Lawrence township

[@LoneLee2022]

@@BREAKINGNEWSOFTRENTON OK thanx

[@cherylcole6989]

That's not eastside high school is it

[@davidhelsem8794]

That old of a building, it's probably all wood construction.

[@JayTubeYT_The_3rd]

No it's not 😂 it's steel construction! The building's inner parts were the weakish, not the framing or the bricks!

[@davidhelsem8794]

​@@JayTubeYT_The_3rd not sure, but It's not worth the argument! !!!!

[@JayTubeYT_The_3rd]

@@davidhelsem8794 I was mad that night. Sorry.

[@davidhelsem8794]

@@JayTubeYT_The_3rd apology accepted. Thanks for being a good person for it.

[@chrishuston1451]

Another dept. watering the bricks!

[@tinagrier6641]

Ehy would a Firestarter a cacant building g u less it was intentionally Et

[@Bernie0481USMC]

Surround and drown.

[@biezulbub669]

I heard there were 2 dead bodies found inside.

[@TheTruthDragonNJ09]

Nope, there weren't. EMTs were on scene but left with nobody in the vehicles.

[@biezulbub669]

@@TheTruthDragonNJ09 oh OK

[@LoneLee2022]

I left more than 2.

[@TheTruthDragonNJ09]

@@LoneLee2022 - You're playing a dangerous game...

[@LoneLee2022]

@@TheTruthDragonNJ09 Word! You feel me?